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CHIROPODY SERVICE
On 1st April 1966 a unified service was established throughout the Borough. The Council took
over the clinics previously operated by the Tottenham Old People's Welfare Committee, Hornsey Old
People's Welfare Council and the British Red Cross Society. The Council employed nine chiropodists
on domiciliary work, four of whom also do clinic sessions; twelve chiropodists carry out treatment at
clinics, one of whom works from his own surgery. As a result of unification, the number of clinic sessions
rose from seven per week to 37. This involved a total number of 11,360 treatments for 2,426 patients.
Thechiropodist whoworks from his own surgery dealt with a further 139 patients. The total of domiciliary
treatments was 5,928 to 1,413 patients. During the year a full-time chiropodist was engaged to replace
three part-time chiropodists who had left the employment of this Council, and an additional part-time
chiropodist was employed for one session per week and also to do domiciliary work. Clinic sessions
were held at:-
Fortis Green Clinic 1 session weekly
Weston Park Clinic 6 sessions weekly
Burgoyne Road Clinic 1 session weekly
Stuart Villa Clinic 5 sessions weekly
Cornwall Road Clinic 6 sessions weekly
Lordship Lane Clinic 5 sessions weekly
Park Lane Clinic 3 sessions weekly
Clinic sessions for school children:-
Lordship Lane Clinic 2 sessions weekly
Weston Park Clinic 2 sessions weekly
Clinic sessions held at British Red Cross Clinics:-
Bruce Grove, Tottenham, N.17 1 session alternate weeks
High Cross, Tottenham, N.15 1 session alternate weeks
Grove Lodge, Hornsey 1 session alternate weeks
River Park Road, Wood Green 2 sessions weekly plus
2 sessions alternate weeks
A number of the clinic sessions are still held in the premises of the voluntary societies although
they now come under the direct administration of this Authority. When chiropodists have left our employ,
difficulty has been experienced in recruiting new suitably qualified staff as it is the general policy of
all the London Boroughs to extend this important service.
CARE OF UNSUPPORTED MOTHERS AND THEIR BABIES
There exists in this Borough, as indeed in all Boroughs, the unhappy problem of the unsupported
mother. The majority of such mothers are unmarried, but there occur from time to time a few who are
married but for various reasons are homeless.
A full-time qualified social worker is employed by the Council, who is responsible for the wellbeing
of those who seek help in facing this particular problem. Unhappily, during the past year, the social
worker appointed for this purpose sustained a serious road accident and has been off duty for some
months. However an acting social worker was detailed to cover the work during this period.
Apart from the statutory duties provided by the Health Department, a great amount of social work is
occasioned. When a patient first makes application for assistance she often needs reassurance and
understanding and the first interview tends to be lengthy. Her story is haltingly told and has to be
painstakingly elicited to enable the social worker to assess where the greater need lies and how best to
help. The pattern of the help that can be given is fully explained which gives the desired result of hope
renewed and dispels the often despairing feeling of being alone in coping with the problem facing the
unsupported mother. On many occasions a great deal of time has to be spent in reassuring and encouraging
parents of the patient who are shocked and bewildered by the unexpected problem facing their daughter.
Invariably, when parents have emerged from the shock and faced the implications of the problem they rally
magnificently and become firm supporters of the daughter facing the coming ordeal.
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