[Report 1960] / Medical Officer of Health, Northampton County Borough.

General Provision of Health Services (continued) Chiropody. A chiropody service was commenced on 1st April, 1960, for the elderly (restricted to men and women of 65 and 60 years of age and over respectively). The service is in the form of financial assistance to the Northampton Old People’s Voluntary Welfare Committee to enable it to maintain the chiropody service for old people to receive treatment up to a maximum of four times a year. The Chiropodist is paid at the rate of 7s. 6d. per visit, the patient paying 2s. 6d. Each patient must consult his or her own doctor in the first instance and accept his advice as to the necessity for chiropody treatment. An arrangement is also in being between local chiropodists and the Local Authority whereby expectant mothers pay the full charge subject to this being waived or reduced in any individual cases where hardship can be proved. Domestic Help. The following information relates to the working of the Domestic Help Scheme under Section 29 of the National Health Service Act, 1946 — Administrative staff on 31st December, 1960 :— Organiser .... 1) 9 Clerk .. If Home helps employed on 31st December, 1960 :— Whole time (permanent staff) . 5) Part time (temporary staff). 55) Cases helped :— Maternity (including expectant mothers) ... 58\ Tuberculosis . 2| Chronic sick (including aged and infirm) ... 275 390 Registered blind ... 15 Acute illness and others ... 40/ Cases where no help was available . 120 Visits by Organiser . 155 Under the approved scheme, help can be provided for households where such help is required owing to the presence of any person who is ill, lying-in, an expectant mother, mentally defective, aged, or a child not over compulsory school age. Application is made to the Medical Officer of Health. Charges appropriate to the means of the user are made in accordance with a local scale. Mental Health Services. The Health Committee, through the Health Services Sub-Committee (see page 10), are responsible for the adminis¬ tration of the Mental Health Act, 1959. The report for 1960 is incorporated in this volume (see Section IX. on pages 64 to 70). School Health Service. The Medical Officer of Health is also Principal School Medical Officer. The Annual Report upon the School Health Service is published on pages 83 to 103 and gives particulars of the staff employed and the work done during 1960. Welfare Services. Reference should be made to Section X. on pages 71 to 81.