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42
A review of the service carried out in December showed that during the
year 298 referrals were received from the following sources:-
General Medical Practitioners 60
District Nurses 53
Hospitals 4
Social Workers 62
Home Help Organisers 52
Others (Health Visitors, Bathing Centre Staff and Chiropodists.
67
Whenever possible patients whom for one reason or another, are unable
to get to the clinics, are transported by ambulance and during the year the
ambulances were used on 142 occasions and a total of 584 patients were
carried.
A fortnightly chiropody service has been arranged at Old People's Homes
as follows - Glebelands, Oaklands, St. Anne's Convent for Old People. Also
every 8 weeks a visit is made to the British Home for Deaf and Dumb Women.
An appliance session was started at Somerford Grove Health Centre during
the year. Prescriptions for appliances were referred from the other clinics
to the Senior Chiropodist there.
An exhibition of chiropody services with emphasis on foot health and
care of the feet was incorporated in the 1972 Hackney &ow. A modern
chiropody surgery was on show and also displays of children's shoes, foot
appliances and foot ailments.
During the year 6 Junior Schools in the Borough were visited by a Senior
Chiropodist and talks given on foot health and general care of the feet.
Staffing
The low level of recruitment of chiropodists still continues and causes
a waiting time of 6 to 8 weeks although every effort is made to treat urgent
cases sooner.
Arising from this shortage or chiropodists the methods of provision of
domiciliary chiropody was under review at the end of the year.
RECUPERATIVE HOLIDAYS
Details of the number of holidays arranged for expectant and nursing
mothers, children under five and school children who have suffered from a
recent acute illness and are in need of a short period of rest without
medical or nursing care are set out below:-
Expectant and Nursing Mothers - 3
Children under Five - 2
School Children - 348
Holidays for other adults are arranged by the Social Services Department.
Close liaison is maintained with that Department in cases where a
family consisting of adults, children under 5 years and school children are
to go on holiday together.