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Other work in the Health Centres which is also designed to
promote the health of the community, continues to flourish and in
this respect 1,490 women attended the local authority ante-natal
clinics. A further 7,610 attended the General Practitioner Obstetrician
ante-natal sessions held in Centres throughout the Borough.
Immunisation programmes for the year have resulted in 8,398
children receiving completed courses, 3,351 children immunised
against measles (vaccine for which was not available until May)
and 9,665 children receiving booster doses.
Work of the Health Visitors in the Chest Clinics does not
decrease although the pattern of disease is altering. Much of the
home visiting is to terminal cases of cancer where the help and
support of the patient and the family at this time is our first
concern.
Chronic bronchitis is a crippling disease demanding Health
Visitors' time for family support and patient encouragement.
Follow-up of the patients' contacts in the control of tuberculosis
is the major factor in the prevention of disease and here, also, the
Health Visitors use tact, persuasion and patience in the successful
implementation of this service.
Staff
Five student Health Visitors successfully completed their course
and were appointed to the staff in September.
Two Health Visitors and one School Nurse retired, and eleven
Nurses left. Two Physiotherapists left and a new senior Physiotherapist
was appointed.
Four new Health Visitors and ten Nurses were appointed during
the year.
Despite these staff changes, the services ran more easily and the
staff were not so hard pressed as last year. With nine student
Health Visitors in training, we look forward to an even more progressive
year in 1969.
Ante and Post Natal Clinics
These clinics, provided by the Council at its Welfare Centres, are
under the supervision of the Council's Medical Officers or General
Practitioner Obstetricians and they serve as centres where midwives
can book and examine their patients and where facilities are offered
for certain routine investigations.