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Geriatric Services
Retirement Advice Clinics continued to function at a low level of activity with only a small number of clients
attending. But it now appears to have been worthwhile maintaining the level of expertise in this field gained over
several years, as it was announced in 1972 that the Council had agreed to the provision of three geriatric visitor
posts in the year 1972/73. With these it is hoped not only to improve the services for the elderly sick in the
Borough, but to enlarge, in connection with the clinics, the means of prevention of disease, enabling as many
older people as possible to live their lives to the full.
The Geriatric Co-ordinating Committee further established itself as a valuable instrument for concentrating the
maximum expertise of the Health Department, Social Services and Hospitals on older people who are in or near
crisis. The Committee was originally formed to avoid where practicable the necessity for compulsory removal to a
hospital or old people's home. It seeks to achieve this by affording the maximum choice of action to the old
person concerned, ensuring that all the services enabling his or her remaining at home are provided, but at the
same time pointing out any pleasanter alternatives that are within reach. Often it would seem that it is not so much
that the Committee and the elderly person are of differing opinions on the right course of action, but that one is a
little ahead of the other. Most problems are ultimately resolved in a manner satisfactory to both parties.
Only in one case was it necessary to use the force of the law. An elderly man, in a deteriorating state of health,
refused an offer of a place in an old people's home, despite persuasion from his doctor, his family and Council
staff. At length, on the Thursday before Easter week-end, he was found lying helpless in bed, still refusing
assistance. An emergency order under Section 47 of the National Assistance Act, 1948, was obtained from a
Magistrate, and he was admitted to hospital, where he died a few days later.
Fifty three new cases were referred to the Committee during the year. Twenty four old cases were kept under
review. Eight went into Old People's Homes, 6 died and 45 were removed from the list with the proviso that they
could be returned at any time. Two left the area.
Chiropody
Demands on the limited staff and resources of the Chiropody Service are so great that it became necessary, in
order to treat as many as possible, to space treatments at a minimum of eight weeks, except in specially authorised
cases.

1,604 clinic sessions were held during the year, including sessions for school children.
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