View report page

87
CHIROPODY SERVICES
The Foot Clinic, originally established by the Borough
Council, continued as in previous years with four whole-time
chiropodists.
Daily morning sessions were held, with afternoon sessions on
Monday and Wednesdays and evening sessions on Mondays,
Wednesdays and Thursdays. Treatment was by appointment and
unfortunately, there is always a long waiting list.
Total attendances in 1949 were 13,868, including 1,730 by
new patients.
MEALS-ON-WHEELS SERVICE
This Service is administered and subsidised by the Borough
Council, and Mr. T. A. O'Connor, Catering Manager, states that
8,112 meals were served during 1949.
DOMESTIC HELP SERVICE
(Section 29)
This continues to be administered on the lines adopted in
previous years, but with a considerable expansion.
During the year the Clerk in charge was designated as
Domestic Help Organiser and an assistant was appointed.
The aim has been to staff the Service by a nucleus of wholetime
helpers assisted by the required number of part-time helpers.
At the end of the year 4 whole-time helpers and 125 part-time
helpers were employed.
The precautions adopted in the case of helpers employed in
tuberculous households included X-ray examination and advice as
to the precautions to be followed.
The practice was continued of requiring a medical certificate
in support of all applications and of renewals after three months.
The Local Medical Practitioners were particularly helpful in providing
such certificates without fees and there is no question that
the practice helps to minimise abuse.
The Domestic Help Organiser, Mrs. C. M. Hall, has contributed
the following report :—
Review of Service for the year 1949
"Since 1948 the Domestic Help Service has become a
well-established section of the Health Service and during 1949
met a very serious need in the Borough.