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6
NOTIFICATION OF BIRTHS ACT, 1907.
As stated in my Report for 1908, this Act came into operation in
this Borough on 27th December, 1909.
Appointment and Duties of Health Visitor.
Difficulty having arisen as to the legal power of a Sanitary
Authority to appoint Health Visitors, the London County Council
in Section 6 of their General Powers Act, 1908, obtained powers for
each sanitary authority within the County of London, to appoint
suitable women (to be known as "Health Visitors)," for the purpose
of giving to persons advice as to the proper nurture, care, and
management of young children, and the promotion of cleanliness
and discharging such other duties (if any) as may be assigned to
them in accordance with the provisions of this section.
The approval of the Local Government Board having been
received to the appointment of Miss McCleverty, of Luton, she took
up her duties here on March 2nd, 1910.
Miss McCleverty visits the homes of newly-born children, and
gives advice to the mothers on the following subjects:—
Feeding, cleanliness of the child and its surroundings. Need of
fresh air. Danger of giving drugs and alcohol, except by doctors
orders. Risks attending the use of teething powders and soothing
mixtures, and general hygienic advice.
In addition to the visiting, the Health Visitor keeps all the books
in connection with her work, viz.:—A daily journal, and report book
in which are entered all the details of the cases visited and her
reports thereon. She also makes out a weekly return to the London
County Council of the births notified.
I have much pleasure in stating that she has carried out her
duties in an efficient, tactful, and very thorough manner.