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108
of Social Welfare; and endeavour to see that the advice there given is
carried out in the home. They also attend at the Borough Council's
Pre-Maternity Clinics and Dental Clinic.

In a district such as Hampstead, many of the children are born in
surroundings which make it quite unnecessary for a Health Visitor to
call. Many of the cases that are visited are found on enquiry not to be
in need of any help or advice. Owing to the existing housing and social
conditions, there are many instances where it is extremely doubtful
whether or not a Health Visitor ought to call—on the one hand intelligent
people needing no help are sometimes living in houses which might lead
one to expect a different type of family; and on the other hand, some
houses are let out to many families who would welcome a Health Visitor,
while the locality of the house itself is not a sure guide to the kind of
occupant. These facts account in some measure for the number of "first"
visits which are not followed up. Broadly speaking, about one-half of
the total number of births are visited, and of these only about one-half,
or 25 per cent. of the original number, are kept under supervision.
In some minds there appears to be an impression that Hampstead
consists of only well-to-do people living in good class houses. These
people cannot apparently envisage the Borough except as it is represented