London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Shoreditch 1947
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Shoreditch]
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34
FOOT CLINIC
The demand for municipal chiropody continues to grow, and there is no doubt
that the municipal foot clinic fulfils a useful function. The clinic, established in
1936, is situated in the Health Centre, Laburnum Street. It deals with minor
abnormalities of the feet such as corns, bunions, ingrowing toenails, etc. Orthopaedic
cases are referred either to the patient's own doctor or to hospital.
The staff now consists of two whole-time chiropodists and one part-time chiropodist.
The two whole-time chiropodists both undertake 11 sessions weekly, and
the part-time chiropodist two or three sessions weekly. Even so, the patients are
not seen after their first attendance as often as the chiropodists desire, because of
the pressure of work.
The total attendances during 1947 were as follows:—
| Year | New cases | Re-visits | Total attendances | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 5 years | 5 to 15 years | 15 years (plus) | Total | |||
| 1947 | 12 | 19 | 453 | 484 | 8,366 | 8,850 |
The scale of charges at present in force is 2s. 6d. for the first visit and 1s. 6d.
for each of three subsequent visits during a period of eight weeks following the first.
Few people have only one foot treated and no distinction is made now in the charge
for one or both feet treated. The Council have also decided that the following cases
should receive treatment free of charge—
(a) Old Age Pensioners, on production of pension book.
(b) Unemployed, on production of card from Labour Exchange.
(c) Maternity and Child Welfare and Tuberculosis cases, on production of a
card signed by the appropriate medical officer.
(,d) Hardship cases, on production of a card signed by the M.O.H. or his assistant.