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40
CHIROPODY
The system of using the services of approved chiropodists working in
their own surgeries was continued and attendances rose steadily. Satisfactory
reports on the premises and mode of practice of all chiropodists in the
scheme were received from the Corporation's visiting specialist. Domiciliary
treatment was also included, but the fees came out of the financial allocation
allowed to each practitioner. It was thus left to individual chiropodists
to decide how they allocated services within their global budgets.
The scheme covers elderly persons, expectant mothers and the permanently
handicapped.
It has proved a successful and popular service, and requests for increases
were limited only by financial consideration. In one area, New
Addington, the complete absence of any private chiropodist's surgery
necessitated the provision of a Corporation clinic, and the engagement of a
part-time chiropodist for 2 sessions a week. Similar facilities were provided
at the "Waylands" Training Centre where up to 100 physically handicapped
persons may attend each day and many need chiropody.
On December 31st 1968, 24 chiropodists were operating this scheme.
During the period January 1st to December 31st 1968, they gave 19,415
treatments at their surgeries and 4,369 by domiciliary visits. 443 treatments
were given at Parkway Clinic, New Addington and 307 at "Waylands".
CERVICAL CYTOLOGY
This service remained limited by the facilities available at the special
Regional Hospital Board laboratory but it was possible to deal with all the
applications resulting from general publicity, with reasonable speed. In
anticipation of the time when local campaigns will be necessary to obtain
applicants, initial approaches were made to industrial and commercial firms
offering them sessions in their own premises. In this way it is hoped that
more women in groups with a greater incidence of cancer of the womb may
accept the test. It is too early to judge the results of this method of
approach.
For detailed figures see Appendix page 120.