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17. CHIROPODY
This service is operated under Section 28 of the National Health Service Act, 1946,
in conjunction with the British Red Cross Society and the Southall Old People's
Welfare Association. It is provided at most of the local authority's clinics and some
community centres; in addition, visits are made to old people's homes.
The establishment of the service is four full-time chiropodists. This is made up
of one full-time chiropodist and seven who work on a sessional basis.
The Chiropody Service is for:—
(a) Elderly people (i.e., persons of pensionable age—women over 60 years
and men over 65 years).
(b) Handicapped persons (persons of any age who are registered disabled
persons having a disablement pension or who are specially recommended on
account of some physical handicap).
(c) Expectant and nursing mothers (a mother may continue to attend for
one year after her baby is born).
The maximum charge for old age pensioners is 4s. according to the assessment of
income, but in the majority of cases there is no charge. For handicapped persons,
the standard charge is 8s. and for expectant and nursing mothers no charge is made.
Persons requiring treatment are asked to complete an application form and to
submit this to the Health Department. An appointment is then made for them to
attend a health clinic for treatment. Subsequent appointments are given as requested
by the chiropodist, the average return period being eight weeks.
If a person is unable to attend a clinic, a medical certificate must be obtained
from his general practitioner recommending either conveyance to a clinic by
ambulance or a domiciliary visit by a chiropodist.

These figures show an increase on previous years due both to the combining of
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