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50
The Ealing Contributory Shoe Scheme came to an end in
October, 1951 amid the expressed regret of the parents who
participated. 175 children were included in the scheme and the
final report of the two years' work gave some interesting facts.
The following points were of general interest:
1. Three pairs of strong shoes and one pair of sandals are
sufficient to carry most children through the year, provided
the shoes are made and fitted to allow for growth.
2. 98% of children can be fitted from a range of shoes where
there are three fittings to each half-size, but less than 50%
of children are adequately fitted by shoes where there is
only one "average" fitting to each size.
3. Minor foot defects will correct by themselves when the
foot is shod to allow free growth.
In November the Royal College of Nursing ran a Refresher
Course for Health Visitors and made a request that a talk on the
Shoe Scheme should be given to a group of their members.
Accordingly, an afternoon programme was arranged and included
a report of the methods and results of the Shoe Scheme, demonstrations
of early foot defects, and of suitable and unsuitable
footwear.
During the year Dr. R. Hardy, the Research Scholar of the
British Boot Shoe and Allied Trades Research Association, made a
special study of the cause of bunions. After making a survey on
adults he wished to study the early causes of bunions in children
and was given facilities to examine and to X-ray some of our school
children. In his results published in The Lancet he disposes of
the idea that certain types of inborn foot defects are the main causes
of bunions and stresses the fact that the cause must be sought
for elsewhere. This finding agrees with our own work which points
to bad footwear as one of the main causes of bunions and indicates
a fruitful field for future preventive action."
FOOT CARE SERVICES.
Treatment for foot complaint is given by:
(a) Chiropody Clinic (five sessions per week).
(b) Special Minor Ailment Clinic.
(c) In certain cases by the Orthopaedic and Physiotherapy
Clinics.