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Section 28 PREVENTION OF ILLNESS CARE AND AFTER CARE
Chiropody - The arrangements for providing chiropody treatment which
is not restricted to any special categories of persons, continued
during the year.
We were fortunate in maintaining a full establishment of
chiropodists, although at the end of October one member of the staff,
who had been with us 15 years, decided to accept an appointment nearer
to his home to avoid travelling difficulties. A replacement was
appointed on the 31st December thus avoiding a long period of closure
at the West Avenue Health Services Clinic. During the two months when
West Avenue was without a full time chiropodist the children's
sessions were undertaken by part-time relief staff.
In the course of the year the Chiropody Service gave 21,636
treatments, details of which are given in the table on page 78
At the end of November the Chiropody Department assumed responsibility
for treating some sixty patients of pensionable age now living
in 'Alliston House', Shernhall Street. Regular visits are made at
two weekly intervals to this newly opened Old People's Home, where a
temporary surgery has been equipped.
The domiciliary service is provided for incapacitated patients
who are unable to attend for treatment at one of the regular Clinics.
A total of six sessions per week are devoted to this work, two by
members of the regular whole time staff, and four by part-time
chiropodists who were recruited primarily for this purpose. The
domiciliary service creates difficulties for the chiropodists as
treatment in the home without the use of normal clinic equipment
places them under a strain. Thus it is not easy to obtain staff who
are willing to accept the professional responsibility of working
under these conditions. However the service is greatly appreciated
by housebound patients who look forward to their visits from the
chiropodist.
Section 29 DOMESTIC HELP SERVICE
The particularly severe winter created difficulties for both
patients and staff. Many patients were made house-bound, and often
relied completely on the Domestic Help Service for almost all day to
day needs. Some patients suffered the inconvenience of burst pipes,
lack of water, and Yery often no fuel, and in these circumstances
normal household duties became a strain upon the individuals concerned.
Even in the worst weather most domestic helps continued to attend
patients, often having to travel on foot, and during this trying
period relatively few were absent on account of sickness.
The high standard of service set by the domestic help staff has
generally been maintained. It is of interest to note however, that
although the number of applications for appointment continues to be
satisfactory, not all candidates are willing to undertake the work
when the nature of the duties are fully appreciated, namely, attention
to the personal needs of patients and sometimes the cleaning of not so
clean homes.