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38
Before approving the licensing of any premises, the Public Health
Committee requires to be satisfied about the general suitability for the
work to be done in it, and about the equipment. Those in whose name the
premises are licensed have to comply with the bye-laws relating to the
conduct of these premises. Licences are renewed annually.
It is the premises which are licensed. Anyone who carries on similar
treatment not at any premises but at the homes of patients does not need
to be licensed.
The Authority may refuse to grant a licence in respect of any establishment
in which massage or special treatment is or may be administered
by any person who does not possess such treatment qualifications as may
be reasonably necessary. Unfortunately no minimum standards of
qualification are laid down and when this Council applied some few years
ago to be allowed to make a bye-law prescribing minimum standards, the
request was not granted.
The vast majority of chiropodists practise their profession after
undertaking a 3 year course of instruction—theoretical and practicalat
a recognised school of chiropody. On the other hand, some people
practise chiropody and offer by way of qualifications a variety of diplomas
granted after taking courses of instruction of varying duration and
content—in some the theoretical part is done by way of correspondence
courses, with a short practical course at the end. There is obviously no
comparison possible between these two courses and one is naturally
suspicious that the latter can be classified as "being suitably qualified".
No doubt some of these practitioners by dint of many years of practical
experience become very skilled in their work, but basically I think it is
wrong that persons whose qualifications are not sufficient to enable them
to get employment in the National Health Service can treat the public
in their own private establishments.
It may be that this invidious situation may be remedied in the not
too distant future. In 1961 certain provisions of the Professions Supplementary
to Medicine Act, 1960, came into operation. The Act provides
for the establishment of Boards to promote a high standard of professional
education and conduct for Chiropodists, Physiotherapists, Occupational
Therapists and other medical auxiliaries. In 1961 the Council and Boards
for the various professions were established and during 1962 the preparation
of registers began and qualifications for registration were prescribed
The Physiotherapist's Register has been completed and this will soon be
followed by the Chiropodist's Register. Admission to the various registers
will follow attendance at courses of training approved by the various
Boards, or in the case of existing practitioners those who are considered
suitably qualified by reason of practical experience before the appointed
day.