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29
DEAFNESS
Schemes for testing all infants during the first year of life, whose
names were included on the "At Risk" register, were continued.
This assessment of hearing ability is extended to all infants attending
child health centres, and where staffing permits by home visits of
health visitors.
For detailed figures see Appendix, page 97.
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. For the past four years
in New Addington, the complete absence of any private chiropodist's surgery
within the scheme has necessitated the provision of a Corporation clinic,and
the engagement of a part-time chiropodist for 3 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 December31st 1971, 29 chiropodists were operating this scheme.
During the period January 1st to December 31st 1971, they gave 24,182 treatments
at their surgeries and 8,298 by domiciliary visits. 723 treatments were
given at Parkway Clinic, New Addington and 237 at "Waylands".