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During the same period, 213 applications for admission to a Home were taken and
at the 31st December, 1968, the waiting list was as follows :-
Men Women Total
Less than 1 month 1 2 3
1 month — 6 months 8 38 46
6 months —1 year 5 11 16
1 year and over 1 2 3
15 53 68
My thanks are due to Dr. J. S. Finn, Consultant Geriatrician, Kingston Hospital
and Dr. J. Andrews, Consultant Physician to the Geriatric Service, South West Middlesex
Group, West Middlesex Hospital, for their co-operation throughout the year.
ACCIDENTAL HYPOTHERMIA.
Because of the large proportion of elderly persons in the Borough, emergency
accidental hypothermia kits are made available on a 24 hour basis for use by medical
and nursing staff. These kits consist of self-heating cans of soup, sleeping bags,
blankets, hot water bottles, thermometers, convector type oil heaters, matches and
change for electricity and gas meters. They are stored in the Hostel at 11, Rosslyn
Road, Twickenham, which is reasonably centrally placed in the Borough.
During the year the kits were used on four occasions.
CHIROPODY SERVICE.
The Secretary of State for Social Services has asked for the inclusion in this report
of a review of progress in the provision of a chiropody scheme to meet the needs of the
elderly, physically handicapped and expectant mothers since the issue of Ministry of
Health Circular 11/59.
Prior to the reorganisation of London Government on the 1st April, 1965, two
chiropody schemes run by the Surrey and former Middlesex County Councils were in
operation. The main difference between the two schemes was that the majority of
treatments in the Barnes and Richmond part of the Borough were carried out in the
private surgeries of chiropodists, whereas in the Middlesex parts, treatments were
carried out in the former County Council clinics. Both schemes operated a domiciliary
treatment service.
The arrangements made by the County Councils mentioned were continued until
the 1st June, 1966, when a revised chiropody scheme, approved by the London Borough
of Richmond upon Thames Council, came into effect.
This revised scheme, which has the full co-operation of the majority of the chiropodists
in the Borough, enables persons eligible to receive treatment under the Council's
scheme to attend a chiropodist of his or her choice. The number of treatments in
Council clinics and given by voluntary societies has, therefore, considerably reduced
since the scheme came into operation.
Details of the chiropody scheme at present operating within the Borough are as
follows : —
Method of Provision
(a) Treatment at the surgeries of private chiropodists.
(b) Treatment at Borough Council clinics.
(c) Treatment at sessions arranged by Voluntary Societies.
(d) Domiciliary treatments.
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