View report page

Another aspect relating to staffing was the recommendation that "the encouragement
given to staff to attend conference and refresher courses should ensure that treatment standards
will be maintained and improved". This is also a matter which will repay further looking into as
quite as great an incentive to recruitment and retention of staff is provided by the feeling that
the service being given is efficient and modern. In the present world where advance is so rapid
it is important to give the staff the opportunity and encouragement to be up to date, and to make
contact with colleagues who are leading the profession.
Another recommendation was that Dental Health Education should be developed and I
am glad to report that a campaign has been organised by the Health Education Officer for March,
1967.
There was also some criticism of the accommodation and equipment at the various
clinics. In view of the economic situation, a phased programme of equipment replacement has
been planned. Financial provision for the first phase has been included in the estimates for
1967/68.
There is no significant change in the amount of treatment provided for M. and C.W. patients
but we have planned, in future, to invite parents of school children to bring their pre-school infants
to the clinics for dental inspection at an early age.
In consequence of the afore-mentioned staff shortages, the Dental Laboratory has had
less work to do. Methods are being urgently sought to remedy this.
G.P.L.Taylor
Principal Dental Officer
Chiropody Service
Chiropody came to the Waltham Forest area in September, 1931, when a Foot Clinic was
established in Walthamstow, this being the second municipal service in the country, the first
having been established by the then Bermondsey Borough Council in 1930. Our service has been
maintained over the years in spite of staff shortages, but we are still one of the few that caters
for all age groups.
The question of frequency of domiciliary visits still gives concern, being governed by
the number of chiropodists we have available. With a population of some 239,520 one's resources
are rather stretched, as with ten Clinics and six Welfare Homes and ever increasing domiciliary
demand, and only 16 chiropodists to cope, the urgent cases on our books have to be seen what
ever may come.
We still have our old enemy the shoes. Much remains to be done in persuading the
public to wear the correct shoes, as quite a lot of foot trouble is thus caused. Some parents
need advice on how to resist the demands and dictation of their children when buying shoes.
Our six Welfare Homes, each have one chiropody session per week. These have been
maintained in spite of other pressing commitments.
20