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T.B. Households 58 (21)
Households-other infectious illnesses 800 (963)
Total effective visits 47,775 (54,503)
Total ineffective visits 12,989 (14,361)
The health visitors are constantly on the alert to ensure new needs of families are met. The following
two examples are illustrations of this:-
LEGARD ROAD FAMILY CENTRE
After thorough discussions between the Children's Department, National Children's Home and Public
Health Department, it was decided to use vacant accommodation in the Legard Road premises of the
National Children's Home as a joint project for a Family Centre. The venture commenced in September and
provides a service for socially isolated mothers and their young children. Health visitors have referred
mothers of young families who would benefit from mixing within a group, and who may not want to
attend that kind of activity at a Maternal and Child Health centre. Health visitors are present at most of the
sessions held and have given informal health education to the whole group irrespective of the original
source of referral.
DRAYTON PARK CENTRE
An experimental group for mothers with physically handicapped children (some of them may also be
"retarded") commenced in November. Having a physically handicapped child in a family causes special
problems. The aim of the group is to get the mothers to discuss their specific difficulties fully. The group
has deliberately been kept small so that mothers may talk without constraint. The development of this
group has been slow, but the mothers who attend appear to benefit.
QUADRUPLETS
During the year quadruplets (two boys and two girls) were born in Islington; they were the first
children of the parents and born prematurely. On the return of the mother and babies from hospital, the
health visited regularly, at least once a fortnight. Home help service was arranged and a full time nursery
nurse was seconded from one of the day nurseries. This nursery nurse helped the mother in the care of the
children and in the great task of coping with four babies. The babies were followed-up medically at home and
hospital and by the age of nine months their development was that of normal children. The nursery nurse
reports "I found looking after the quads good experience and great fun; I also learnt some things from the
babies, especially how four babies can all have such individual characteristics and need different kinds of
care and affection".
STUDENT TRAINING
Eight health visitor students were sponsored for training by the Borough and all were successful in
their examinations. Eight health visitor students from other boroughs were given practical training.
FIRE CASES
The follow-up by health visitors of fire cases continued. This involves a great deal of home visiting of
the families concerned for advice and health education.
Fires notified 85
Fatalities 12 (14.12%)
Fires involving fatalities 9
Children involved 7 (in 5 fires)
Injuries 37 (43.53%)
Fires involving injuries 18
Fires involving oil heaters 28 (33%)
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