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Society of Chiropodists, and some hundreds of children were talked to, and had their questions
answered. This was not only an opportunity to recruit future chiropodists but also a useful
educational exercise.
Chiropody charges were revised by the Health and Welfare Committee as from 1st
April, 1968. The charge was increased from 2/6d to 7/6d after approximately 20 years of
increasing costs, without a related increase in the charges. The charge was subject to
reduction, or free treatment could be given, in accordance with the Council scale of assessment,
Scale A.
At the Health and Welfare Committee of 4th December, 1968, the matter was reconsidered
in the light of criticisms of the assessment scale for chiropody and further
increases in costs. The Committee revised the charge to l2/6d per treatment, with a charge
of 2/6d for pensioners and free treatment for those in receipt of supplementary benefit.
Assessment scales will no longer be applied.
The increased charges were greeted with widespread criticism even in the press, but
it is now an equitable scheme and there is general acceptance.
Audiology Clinic
Our Audiology Clinic continued to struggle against formidable difficulties during the
year with Dr.Harrison providing an excellent service insofar as delays and shortage in the
provision of equipment allowed and, with a virtual impasse at the Regional Hospital Board
preventing the appointment of the Consultant which the clinic requires --as everyone accepts.
Some degree of expansion was achieved by Dr.Harrison before unfortunately she herself had
to take sick leave. It is to be hoped that she will be able to return before long and we can
renew our efforts to make this clinic the fine thing it was supposed to be, serving not only
Waltham Forest but surrounding boroughs and parts of Essex.
Family Planning
Prior to the National Health Service (Family Planning) Act of 1967, this Authority
already had an arrangement with the Family Planning Association whereby clinic premises
were provided free for five evening sessions a week, financial responsibility was accepted
for a proportion of the rent of the Association's local office and fees and supplies were
paid for in respect of previously agreed domiciliary and medical or special grounds cases.
The 1967 Act extended the powers of Local Authorities to enable them to provide
advice on family planning to both the married and the unmarried on social grounds and not as
previously only for medical cases. The Minister held the view that no charge whatsoever
should be made for medical cases, but that a charge could properly be made for prescriptions
and supply in non-medical cases, but not for advice and examination.
Protracted discussions followed between representatives of the London Boroughs
Association but wide divergences of opinion precluded any general agreement, and it was
left to individual boroughs to make their own arrangements with the Family Planning
Association.
On the 4th September, 1968 the Committee agreed to accept financial responsibility
for partial implementation of the Act. The previous arrangements with the Association were
continued and, in addition, financial responsibility was accepted in respect of cases on
medical grounds, and also increased fees in respect of previously agrred domiciliary cases
which would be adequate fully to cover the Association's costs.
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