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Often there is an acute housing need, but experience has shown that rehousing
in a new home is not always the whole answer.
Such a family may need the help of a number of council services, especially
that of the Children's Department, for the care of the children is paramount.
The health visitor gives advice and support to these families and co-ordinates
the needs for family help, home help, child guidance, and family planning, etc.
There are in the Borough some 30 problem families.
Chiropody
This service is provided partly by the direct employment of chiropodists by
the Council and partly by arrangement with voluntary organisations.
At the end of the year, there were three and eight elevenths equivalent wholetime
chiropodists employed by the Council including a whole-time chief chiropodist.
The number of clinic sessions held was 1,164, the number of patients treated
was 1,395 and the total number of attendances was 5,882. A domiciliary service
for patients unable to attend a clinic required 1,310 visits.
Chiropody treatment for school children was provided under the Education
Act, 1944.
The chief chiropodist reports that, "The year 1965 has shown a continued
demand for chiropody. This is a vital and expanding service and much benefit is
derived by all who avail themselves of it. It can be said that the various foot
conditions of many elderly people, in particular, are eased considerably by this
service, thereby contributing greatly towards their well-being; indeed, a great number
would be completely housebound without regular chiropody treatment. Where
treatment cannot, because of the patient's age or handicap, be given in a clinic,
arrangements are made for the chiropodist to visit the patient's home. Requests
for domiciliary treatment are normally made by the patient's general practitioner.
"Foot Clinic sessions are held at seven of the Council's clinic premises and it is
planned in 1966 to start a Foot Clinic session at the Combined Clinic in New Southgate,
to cater for people living in that area.
"There is an average waiting period of 6-8 weeks between treatments. Every
effort is made to see new patients as soon as possible.
"Fees for treatment have remained unaltered during the year."
The two local divisions of the British Red Cross Society provide a clinic and
domiciliary service. The Southgate Social Service Council provide a service at
chiropodists' own surgeries.
These voluntary organisations treated some 820 patients, who received about
5,220 treatments. It is estimated that they augmented the directly provided service
by the employment of the equivalent of approximately 1½ whole-time chiropodists.
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