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In addition certain proprietary baby foods are supplied at special prices on the
recommendation of clinic doctors or health visitors to children who attend the
centre.
HEALTH VISITING
Under Section 24 of the National Health Service Act 1946, it is the duty of
every local health authority to make provision in their area for the visiting of
persons in their homes by health visitors for the purpose of giving advice as to
the care of young children, persons suffering from illness and expectant or nursing
mothers, and as to the measures necessary to prevent the spread of infection.
The health visitors maintain close liaison with social workers, general
practitioners and the hospitals. In addition to their visits to mothers, babies and
young children under 5 years in the home, they attend at ante-natal, post-natal
and child welfare clinics, instruct at mothercraft and relaxation classes, and
carry out a vigorous programme of health education in the home, the schools, and
clinics. There is a growing demand for the services of health visitors and many
vacancies continue to exist.
Work with problem families, with handicapped children and on the social
problems of a large immigrant population is heavy and increasing. (See page 42).
HOME NURSING
Section 25 of the National Health Service Act 1946 places duty on every local
health authority to make provision for securing the attendance of nurses on persons
who require nursing in their own homes. Home nursing in London was provided
by a number of grant-aided voluntary bodies, some of which also provided domicilary
midwifery services, as agents of the Council. The London County Council did
not itself emply district nurses.
The various district nursing associations in London made mutual arrangements
before 1st April, 1965 to revise the areas which they served to correspond with
the boundaries of the new London Boroughs. The Council arranged with the three
associations which covered the area of the Borough to combine to form the
Lambeth District Nursing Association, and for the Association to provide home
nursing (and domiciliary midwifery) services as the Council's agents. (See page 42).