View report page

27
A patient who had been working as a gardener was found not to be insured under the National Health
Insurance Acts. As he had worked regularly for several employers, the circumstances were reported to the
Ministry of Health. The arrears of insurance contributions were subsequently made up, and, on the death
of the patient, which shortly afterwards occurred, his widow became entitled to a pension for herself and
children under the Widows' and Orphans' Pensions Act.
One of the chief difficulties that the Committee have to contend with is the finding of
employment for patients who have undergone a course of sanatorium treatment and are
certified to be fit for work. It is regretted that the efforts made in this direction during the
year met with but little success.
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.
Health Visitors.
These officers, two in number, work under the control of the Maternity and Child Welfare
Committee of the Council. Their duties are:—
(1) To visit the homes of all newly-born children where considered necessary.
(2) To make enquiries concerning stillbirths and deaths of infants and young children.
(3) To visit and give advice to parents in cases of ophthalmia of the new-born, infective
enteritis and other important diseases.
(4) To investigate all cases of puerperal fever and puerperal pyrexia.
(5) To investigate applications for the supply of milk to necessitous families.
The Health Visitors do not attend any consultations at the Paddington School for Mothers,
but attend alternately once a fortnight at the Infant Consultation Centre at Queen Charlotte's
Maternity Hospital.
The work performed by the Health Visitors is summarised in the appended tables, which
also show how many infants were breast-fed and other interesting information.