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73
Careful consideration has been given to the border-line cases, those
cases where it is not easy to decide whether or not a visit is desirable.
These consist chiefly of the type of those formerly found upon a first
visit not to require any help from the Public Health Authority. It
was felt that these visits represented a loss of valuable energy and time,
and during the year an experiment was tried by instituting the practice
of sending a letter to these cases, thus effecting a saving in the time of
the Health Visitors, which can be more profitably utilised in other
directions.
The letter is in the following terms:—
" Dear Madam,
The birth of your baby has been notified to me.
If at any time you should need help or advice and will
let me know, one of the Council's Health Visitors shall visit
you and offer you any assistance that the Health Department
is able to give.
You are cordially invited to take your baby to a Weighing
Centre later on, and the day and time is shown on the
enclosed card.
Some of the common troubles that beset childhood are
dealt with in the enclosed 'Health Hints' leaflet. If you
keep it by you it may be useful for reference.
Yours faithfully,
Frank E. Scrase,
Medical Officer of Health."
The.booklet entitled "How to rear a Baby," is also sent with the
letter.

Considerable attention has been paid during the year to the
housing conditions of the families in which a birth has occurred at
home, and the table that follows is compiled from the Health Visitors'
records. It is an analysis of 407 instances where the births occurred at
home which were visited, and where the information was obtainable
when the Health Visitor called.