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and must go to a recognised Convalescent Home. The Council
recovers part or all the cost according to the income of the patient
and in accordance with a definite assessment scale. Certain patients
may receive convalescent treatment free, these include Old Age
Pensioners. Every effort is made to suit the patient to the particular
Home, as different Homes cater for different age groups and
different kinds of medical or surgical condition.
During the year 78 cases were dealt with; they comprised 21
men, 51 women and 6 children.
CHIROPODY
From April to December, 1965, 15,376 treatments were given
by the Chiropody Service of this authority. Of this number, 4,554
were domiciliary and 10,822 were surgery cases.
One full-time and three sessional Chiropodists were employed,
and the services of 20 Contractual Chiropodists were also used.
Four clinics were in use throughout the Borough covering the
area concerned quite extensively.
Proposals for a further Chiropody Clinic at Orpington were
also considered and this has since been opened.
MEDICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR
LONG-STAY IMMIGRANTS
Arrangements to cover the special problems which arise in
connection with the health and treatment of long-stay immigrants
to this country have been laid down by the Ministry of Health.
Instructions have also been issued by the Ministry detailing specific
arrangements for the detection and prevention of tuberculosis in
long-stay immigrants.
During the year 138 families were notified to the department
and 97 were successfully visited. This not infrequently involved
more than one visit per family. Some families were not known at
the addresses given and others, despite repeated visits, had not been
contacted by the end of the year.
NATIONAL ASSISTANCE ACT, 1948, SECTION 47
NATIONAL ASSISTANCE (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1951
Under this section of the Act (as amended by the National
Assistance (Amendment) Act, 1951) powers are given to the local
authority for the compulsory removal of persons suffering from
grave chronic disease, or who are aged, infirm or physically handicapped
and who are living in insanitary conditions and unable to
devote to themselves and not receiving from other persons proper
care and attention.
Although several cases were visited and investigated during
the year it was not necessary to apply to the court for an order for
compulsory removal.