View report page

The Children's Clinics still flourish, each school in the Borough being based on one of
the ten clinics. This arrangement is working well, but we will be happier when each school can
be visited and inspected by a chiropodist at regular intervals, thus stepping up the preventive
side of our work.
On June 16th 1966 the Clinic which had been located at the Town Hall, Walthamstow
since 1946, moved to the new Hurst Road Health Centre. Here we have accommodation more
suited to our profession. The patients now have the privacy that they are entitled to, being
treated in separate surgeries with dressing cubicles all in the same suite. This has been much
appreciated by the patients; the chiropodist can now talk and listen to his patient's problems
without others overhearing and this in itself has added dignity to the Service.
R.J.King
J.C.O 'Brien
Chief Chiropodists
Home Help Service
The work of the Home Help Service during 1966 has kept to its familiar pattern.
Statistics have shown a steady rise in the number of cases helped throughout the past ten years
mainly within the "aged" category and many helpless, bedridden, blind and housebound people
have received comfort and succour.
Bookings for help during maternity confinement have been fewer and mostly for part-time;
cost is the usual reason given for shorter hours with husbands and relatives covering the remaining
time.
All request for help have received attention with the minimum period of delay and every
endeavour has been made to give service in relation to need as expeditiously as possible.
Despite the increase in case-loads organisers and clerical staff have remained at the
same level for many years and adequate visiting supervision is becoming increasingly difficult to
maintain.
Home Helps have shown a remarkable devotion to duty and many letters of appreciation
have been received from recipients and relatives.
Recruitment of staff has been easier in Walthamstow than in the Leyton and Chingford
districts but the standard is good generally and Leyton West have succeeded in obtaining the
services of a Male Home Help for difficult male cases.
"Neighbourly Helps" and Night Attendants are very difficult to obtain but fortunately the
demand for these services is at a minimum. We would like to record our thanks to Health Visitors
and all domiciliary services for their interservice co-operation and to the cleansing team directed
by the Deputy Chief Welfare Officer for the valuable help and relief they have afforded in the
initial clearing of rubbish from neglected homes, thus enabling Home Helps to commence duties
under reasonable conditions.
W.E.Pickard
Senior Home Help Organiser
21