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140
appointments is as long as 12 weeks. Whereas a patient who attends
regularly at High Road Baths can put in 4.1 attendances during the
year, only 3.5 annual attendances are possible for a patient at
Dawlish Road Clinic. It is of interest to note that the percentage
of patients who received free treatment was 11.2 per cent. at
Dawlish Road, as compared with 3.2 per cent. at the main clinic.
The disparity in these figures shows the extent to which the elderly
and necessitous take advantage of facilities for foot care when the
facilities are accessible to them. The provision of chiropody is one
of the most beneficent public services available to elderly people.
In May, 1952 arrangements were made with the Ambulance
Supervisor for non-ambulant cases to be transported to the Foot
Clinic by ambulance. The numbers of patients who have availed
themselves of this service since its inauguration are, 1952 (May to
December), 11 patients ; 1953, 22 patients.
Patients transported by motor ambulance are required to
supply the Ambulance Supervisor with a medical certificate from
their own doctor stating that they are not fit to travel by public
transport.
Summary of Attendances and Treatment.
(a) All Ages.

The number of persons who received free treatment was 66
(4.2 per cent. of the total number of new cases). The following are
the figures of attendances for these patients only.