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estimated that, at present, there are some 2,500 children under 5
years of age in England and Wales with spina bifida and that
approximately 1,250 infants are notified each year.
During 1967, the rate of notification of spina bifida in England
and Wales was 2.51 per 1,000 total births compared with 2.14 for
S.E. England and 0.82 for Greenwich. The Borough rate for 1968
was 1.16.
Health Visitor Training
Health Visitor training continues under the agreed revised rules
submitted by the Council for the training of Health Visitors to the
Minister in 1965 in accordance with Section 2 of the Health
Visiting and Social Work (Training) Act, 1962.
Field Work Instructor Courses
Two Health Visitors attended the primary 2-week Course
arranged by the London Borough's Training Committee. This
brings the total number of Field Work Instructors in the Borough
to ten.
Psychoprophylaxis Course
Four Health Visitors and two Midwives attended weekend
courses arranged by the National Childbirth Trust enabling them
to teach psychoprophylaxis to expectant mothers.
Refresher Courses
Three Health Visitors were able to attend refresher courses
during the year arranged by the Royal College of Nursing and the
Health Visitors' Association.
Two School Nurses attended a Refresher Course at Canterbury
University and 4 attended Introductory Courses arranged by the
London Boroughs Training Council.
Student Health Visitors
During 1968, the Borough sponsored nine students to the
1968/69 Health Visitors' Course.
Five previously sponsored students successfully completed their
training in 1968.
Other Courses and Conferences
Some 14 District Nurses, 6 Midwives and 2 Health Visitors
attended short courses or conferences. Two Health Visitors
and a Nursing Officer attended the Institute of Laryngology and
Otology for Audiology Teaching and 3 Nursing Officers were able
to take part in Conferences and a Seminar during 1968.
Observation and Other Visits
Greenwich continues to carry the increasing burden of introducing
nursing and medical staff and visitors from other