View report page

72
Table V shows that the training of shop assistants
is not nearly good enough. Much selling of children's
shoes takes place unfortunately on a Saturday, when
the shops are very busy; some shops employ young
unskilled girls on that day as a source of extra help.
In fact, eight managers admitted that they allow
untrained assistants to fit children's shoes in busy
periods-
The training of assistants was found to be usually
done by the managers themselves,, Only four shops used
training by a shoe firm, and none of the 25 shops sent
their assistants to a training course in shoe-fitting
Less than half the shops allowed their assistants to
attend a refresher course.
Only a third of the shops used x-ray machines, and
all agreed that these machines were of little use in
the fitting of children's shoes,
Summary
A survey of 25 shops selling children's shoes is
described, All the shops were found to stock welldesigned
shoes for children. Very few shops, however,
stocked a comprehensive range of half-sizes and three
width-fittings in these shoes, and such a range is
essential to fit the majority of children's feet, Only
half the shops kept these shoes for children of 11« 18
years. Stocks of larger shoes, of size 7 and over0 were
also limited.
Yet all 25 shops stocked the inferior-styled girls'
shoe known as the "casual,w
There was an unnecessary time-lag in obtaining
shoes out of stock Adequate training of shop assistants
in the art of fitting children's shoes was lacking
The few shops that employed an x-ray machine
found it of little value in shoe-fitting,
It was shown that all well-designed children's
shoes could be multi-fitting and yet be reasonably
priced.
The need to establish shops \diich sell only children's
shoes is discussed,
ORTHOPAEDIC CLINICo
Mr* JeAe Cholmeley, the Orthopaedic Consultant., reports:-
The number of cases seen and treated at the orthopaedic
clinics varies very little although a change in
the type of case seen is occurringe Fortunately the number
of recent cases of poliomyelitis is now very small but
there is no decrease in tlie number of cases of cerebral
palsy. There are, of course9 a large number of minor
conditions as occur in all out-patient departments. For
many of these all that is needed is advice as to suitable
footwear and minor adjustments to boots and shoes in
order to reduce excessive and uneven wear. This not only
often improves the function of the children but is of
economic benefit to their parents. Letters are written to
the general practitioners of all patients referred to the
orthopaedic clinics, with whom therefore we are building