[Report 1964] / Medical Officer of Health, Devon County Council.

  • Devon (England). County Council.
Date:
1964
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1964] / Medical Officer of Health, Devon County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Domiciliary Occupational I’hcrapy Patients Mentally III Mentally Subnormal Physically Handicapped Tuberculous Persons 1962 1963 1964 56 111 303 59 413 516 529 Visits by occupational therapists 4,827 5,476 6,751 CHIROPODY riie cliiropody service has continued to grow both in size and in popularity with the public. It is available for the elderly, physically and mentally handicapped adults, expectant mothers and schoolchildren. No charge is made to those in receipt of National Assistance but for all others the charge is 2/6 per treatment and 4/- for a domiciliary visit. During the year three chiropodists were appointed and one resigned, bringing the total number employed to one chief chiropodist and twelve full-time senior chiropodists, rhirty-three new clinics were opened, making the total number in the County ninety-six. I'he waiting lists at the various clinics continue to rise and because of this it has not been possible to extend the domiciliary service which con- tinues only in a very limited way in the Torquay area. The main object of this service is to keep as many elderly persons mobile and fit enough to reside in their own homes, instead of allowing them to become home-bound and eventually in need of residential care. The hospital car service continues to offer transport to the clinics for those patients medically recommended. In many instances this service is only needed for initial treatment and these patients are then able to make their own way for further treatments. The chief chiropodist continues to work clinics in the area around Exeter, and the staff of senior chiropodists are based at each of the following towns: Barnstaple, Honiton, Paignton, Torquay (2), Newton Abbot, Plympton, Exmouth, Kingsbridge, Plymstock, Bideford, Tiverton. School Children The full service is offered to school children only in Toiquay where one complete day each week is devoted to them. Other areas in the County have been offered this facility in a limited way in view of the waiting list for treatment of the elderly and handicapped. Appliances During the year the chief chiropodist and one senior chiropodist attended a short course in appliance-making but owing to the large number of people requiring treatment, appliance-making has been kept to a minimum. It is hoped that in the coming year with the employment of further chiropodists more time can be spared for this important type of work. In this connection it is interesting to mention that a new technique of appliance-making using a new type of silicone rubber compound is to be tried and it could effect con- siderai)le saving in fitting and dressing time and also reduce the time spent on making appliances in the laboratory.