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Apart from formalised arrangements the majority of health visitors have good
contact with local doctors and call in at their surgeries to discuss cases.
Two practices on the border of the Borough have health visitors from both
Lewisham and a neighbouring borough going in and this arrangement seems
successful.

Staffing and Training of Health Visitors
During 1969 the number of health visitors employed remained constant. Eight
students who were sponsored for training by the Council were successful in the
health visitors' examination and are now working as health visitors with the Council.
Six students are at present training for the Certificate and if successful will be
appointed as health visitors in September, 1970. In addition, students undergoing
the four-year integrated nurse training course leading to qualification in general
nursing, district nursing and health visiting received practical experience in the
Borough. These students have to be of university entrance standard. Students in
each of the four years of the course received this training during the year, the general
nursing training part being taken at King's College Hospital in conjunction with
Croydon College of Technology.
Refresher Courses and In-Service Training
All nursing staff attended courses and lectures outside or within the Borough,
dealing with varied subjects of interest.
Hospitals
Health visitors have maintained and increased links with local hospitals. They
attend paediatric and ante-natal sessions and a health visitor does valuable work
in the diabetic out-patients department, linking hospital and home visiting.
The health visitor attached to the spina bifida clinic at Sydenham Children's
Hospital is able to provide the consultant with details about the home, school and
general management of the child and can also give valuable help and support to
the parents of the handicapped child, bringing in the social services and aids as
required. The number of these children is increasing; there are now between
40-50 children in Lewisham. Health visitors have attended geriatric out-patient
sessions and day hospitals and attended group discussions with other members of
the team at the Hither Green and Lewisham hospitals. The work in liaison with
the venereal disease out-patient department at St. John's Hospital continued, in
addition to discussions regarding patients and follow-up of contacts, opportunities
for health education in preventive measures are observed and undertaken.
Surveys
The health visitors continue to be involved in many surveys, such as:—
1. Greater London Council Research and Intelligence Unit—Spina Bifida;
2. Medical Research Council/London School of Economics—National Survey of
Health and Development;
3. Paediatric Research Unit at Guy's Hospital—South East Regional Survey;
4. National Child Development Study;
5. I.L.E.A. Rubella vaccine trial;
6. G.L.C. Research Unit—Survey of the work of health visitors.
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