[Report 1968] / Medical Officer of Health, York City.

  • York (England). City Council.
Date:
1968
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1968] / Medical Officer of Health, York City. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    with older teenagers and with teachers themselves. The better facilities of Monkgate Clinic and Clifton Clinic, and the encouragement of mothers to linger in all clinics to chat over a cup of tea has also increased the opportunities for the person to person type of teaching which is all important amongst this section of the community. CHIROPODY Prior to 1959, the Health Department operated a Chiropody Service for the elderly which was financed by money from the Purey Cust Fund. It had been gradually developed from one session per week until by 1959 a session was held every afternoon. When the Corporation assumed financial respon¬ sibility the same two part-time Chiropodists continued to be employed, and with increasing demand, additional sessions were added. By the middle of 1964 the service was heavily overburdened and it became clear that a full¬ time Chiropodist was urgently required. It proved very difficult to fill this appointment and it was not until April, 1 967 that the first full-time Chiropodist was appointed. There were at this time 488 patients receiving attention, and in addition, the Chiropodist assumed responsibility for the Chiropody in the Old People's Homes and did her own clerical and administrative work. All patients were seen at one or other of the two central clinics, and the numbers of patients requiring ambulance transport was found to be rising steadily. After the first quarter's work the review of circumstances revealed three main problems. There was a very rapid increase in the numbers of new patients; a very large number of infirm patients required ambulance to get them to the clinics; many patients had to be up and dressed very early to be picked up by the ambulance, were subjected to long periods of travelling round and waiting, and in consequence a number were in very poor condition on arrival at the clinic. The remedies suggested to deal with these problems have now been adopted. Two clinics on the outskirts of the City have been equipped to save patients travelling into town. Some patients who required an ambulance are able to manage the shorter journey without one. In addition, a domiciliary service has now been in operation for a year and has been very successful and popular. It has been found that with careful planning, the chiropodist can attend as many patients as in a clinic session. All the patients previously requiring an ambulance have been absorbed into the domiciliary service, saving both the Chiropodist's time and that of the Ambulance Service to say nothing of the increased convenience and comfort to the patients for whom the service was planned.