View report page

124
Services Act with the true interests of the mentally ill and
handicapped possibly languishing "between two stools".
With remarkably good grace but with many misgivings the
health visitor has accepted the restraint placed upon her work
by the new Act in relation to children and families. But for such
wealth of experience and "know-how" compulsorily relinquished
to be taken up by less qualified staff is to court serious disruption
if not disaster in the continuity of community health and fills her
with dismay. Despite a traditional doctor/nurse relationship it
has taken a life-time for the majority of the medical profession
to understand and evaluate the health visitor and her work in
society. It would be surprising if social workers were accepted
and appreciated in less time. Nevertheless, if society is to gain
maximum benefit from the newer, wider concept of community
health envisaged in the re-organisation of the National Health
Service, then means must be found to establish a close and
successful liaison between hospitals, doctors, health and social
workers, ably supported by an experienced, understanding and
compassionate administration.
Ante and Post Natal Clinics
As expected, attendances at these Clinics continued to
decline during 1971 for the majority of mothers desiring a hospital
confinement can now obtain a booked bed although, as
recognised in the Peel Report, there will always be a small
number of mothers who prefer to have their babies at home.
Unfortunately some of these are women who should be confined
in hospital due to urgent medical or social reasons.
Attendances at Council Clinics during the year fell by 31.2%
to a total of 3,724 and sessions by 62.5% to 190.
Many mothers booked for hospital confinements continue to
have their initial ante-natal care in the Council's Welfare Centres
where they receive the attention of general practitioner obstetricians
and domiciliary midwives. There was also a decline of
14.3% in attendances at G.P. obstetrician sessions over the
same period.