London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Southwark 1971
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Southwark, Borough of]
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The work of the health visitor in these fields including that carried out in schemes
of attachment to general practitioners is described in the appropriate sections of this
report.
Liaison with local hospitals continued. Health visitors continued to attend the
Diabetic Clinic and Paediatric Departments at King's College Hospital and the Newcomen
Assessment Centre Guy's Hospital, making follow-up visits to the children and
families.
The part of the health visiting service which is measurable is shown in the following statistics for 1971:
| First visits to: | |
| Children born in 1971 | 4,729 |
| Children born in 1970 | 5,420 |
| Children born in 1966-69 | 12,469 |
| Total | 22,618 |
| Age 5-18 | 3,465 |
| Aged over 65 | 831 |
| Ante Natal | 1,409 |
| Mentally disordered | 101 |
| Handicapped children and adults | 147 |
| Persons discharged from hospital (other than mental hospitals) | 50 |
| Infectious diseases | 69 |
| Total of all visits made by health visitors | 109,388 |
Attachment of Staff to General Practitioners
Severe limitations on the extension of these schemes is imposed by the continuing
shortage of qualified staff. Furthermore, before any such scheme can be started there
is need for adequate initial discussions and careful consideration of such matters as the
suitability of accommodation, selection of staff and the problems arising from the
overlapping of practice areas with health visitors' geographical areas. However, it has
been possible to maintain existing attachments to 4 group practices involving 4½ health
visitors and 5½ district nurses.
Each health visitor makes follow-up visits to those patients who live in her district
and who attend the practice. She also acts as liaison officer between the general
practitioner and the health visitor concerned with those who live outside her district
but within the borough boundaries.
All health visitors keep in touch with general practitioners in their areas and
there is continuing contact between general practitioners and the home nursing service.
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