View report page

with that of the family doctor has provided greater continuity of care for
the mother.
Participation by Domiciliary Midwives in General Practitioner Units in
Maternity Hospitals
During the year 39 mothers were confined at St.Mary Abbots General
Practitioner Unit under the care of the family doctor and the domiciliary
midwife. A similar scheme, known as The Queen Charlotte's General Practitioner
Bed Scheme, began at Queen Charlotte's Hospital at the end of the
year.
Maternity Liaison Committees
The Maternity Liaison Committees which consist of representatives of
the Maternity Hospitals and general practitioners, are attended by the
Medical Officer of Health, the Principal Nursing Officer, and the NonMedical
Supervisor of Midwives.
Midwifery Training
All the domiciliary midwives are approved teachers for the purpose
of training pupil midwives for Part 2 of the Examination of the Central
Midwives Board. Pupils are received from Queen Charlotte's Hospital for
Part 2 training within the Borough.
Health Visiting (National Health Service Act, 1946, Section 24)
Under Section 24 of the National Health Service Act, 1946, it is the
duty of every local health authority to make provision in their area for
the visiting of persons in their homes by health visitors for the purpose
of giving advice on the care of young children, persons suffering from
illnesses, and expectant or nursing mothers, and on the measures necessary
to prevent the spread of infection. Section 11 of the Health Services and
Public Health Act, 1968, enables local health authorities to make provision
for the visiting of persons, by health visitors, elsewhere than in their
homes.
The organisation of health visitors in groups in the areas in which
they work has continued to make them easily accessible to any family in
need of their help. Mothers from abroad with young children continue to
use the health visitor as the first line of approach when needing advice
on social and health problems. The total number of visits paid during
the year by health visitors was 65,242 (69,001).
Co-operation Between Health Visitors and Paediatric Staff
The co-operation between health visitors and the paediatric department
staff in the new Charing Cross Hospital being rebuilt in Fulham is now well
established. All health visitors have attended Consultants' clinics and
have joined in ward teaching rounds. This association has led to easy and
informal communication between local authority staff and all hospital
departments. One health visitor acts as a permanent liaison officer
between colleagues and the hospital.
Co-operation of Health Visitors with General Practitioners
Co-operation between general practitioners and health visitors has been
extended by the attachment of health visitors to two group practices and
by the opening of the Grove Health Centre. A weekly visit to a group practice
situated outside the Borough boundary by a health visitor whose area
C.7.