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In the first instance the service was offered to all old age pensioners in the Borough. Four
months later, in October 1957, the Committee realised that the cost of the service would far exceed
the grant, and since then it has been found necessary to restrict the service to the limited number
of those old age pensioners in receipt of National Assistance even though the National Corporation
for the Care of Old People had agreed to increase the grant towards the cost of the service.
The numbers treated have been relatively small, but that is not surprising as the scheme was
essentially experimental in nature.
In February, 1959, it was decided to invite the chiropodists to come to another meeting to
comment on the working of the scheme, Shortly after the arrangements for the meeting were made,
the Minister of Health stated that, under Section 28 of the National Health Service Act, those
local authorities who wished,to contribute to the funds of voluntary organisations for the purpose
of providing chiropody would no longer need to seek his approval. This was a definite change in
policy, because in the past the local health authorities had been allowed to contribute only to
those chiropody schemes which had been in existence before the National Health Service Act was
passed .
The future trend for chiropody services for old people would appear to be for the Local
Health Authority, that is for the Middlesex County Council, either to subsidise schemes devised
by voluntary organisations such as the Old People's Welfare Committee, or alternatively to administer
the scheme directly. A scheme organised by the voluntary organisations would allow scope
for treatment at the chiropodists' own surgeries and also for domiciliary treatment On the other
hand, were the scheme to be administered directly by the Local Health Authority, there would be
some degree of medical supervision, the treatment would probably be carried out at the Council's
clinics and the chiropodists employed would have to satisfy the statutory requirements for registration
as medical auxiliaries.
Mr .J.R. Hall, President of the Society of Chiropodists, then gave a report on his recent
meetings with officials of the Ministry of Health and other Government Departments who would be
concerned with administration in the event of chiropody being brought within the Health Service.
He also emphasised the point that if it should be decided to establish clinics there would be
great difficulty in finding sufficient chiropodists with qualifications required by the Ministry.
It would appear that for some time to come it would be necessary to make use of existing
private surgeries to the greatest possible extent. This would in fact be an extension of the type
of service which has been in operation for the last two or three years in Hendon and certain other
Boroughs. But the cost would be met from public instead of private funds.
A discussion followed. It appeared that the chiropodists operating the scheme were satisfied
with the way it was working and hoped it would continue on its present lines.
It appeared from information supplied by Mis. Marsh that the Red Cross Clinic at Mary lands
was somewhat overloaded which led to patients having to wait up to two months for an appointment.
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