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The City Council has also become a sponsoring authority for the training of health visitors and
arrangements are made through the London Boroughs Training Committee. Selection of seven
candidates was made early in 1965 to commence a year's training period from October 1965 and the
standard of these students has proved to be very high. It is encouraging that the City is able to attract
this type of candidate for health visitor training.
School Health Work
Two school nurses carry out the programme of audiology testing of school children in the City's
schools. Health Visitors and School Nurses continue to take part in the School Health Service.
It is the aim of the Department to allocate the work in the Nursery Schools, Infants Schools, and
Junior Mixed Schools to Health Visitors. Their knowledge of the homes and of the parents of the
pre-school child and their special training is of immense value to the teaching staff and the medical
officer and they should combine in the team to be of help to the child during its first years of school life.
Review of Nursing Services
During 1965 a review of the City Council's nursing services was undertaken, following the receipt
of Circular 12/65, 25th June, 1965, from the Ministry of Health. In this circular it was stated that a
Standing Nursing Advisory Committee had considered to what extent the nursing team in local
authority services could be developed and how its effectiveness could be increased by the employment
of professional and non-professional workers to assist them.
Following the review the Council agreed that the Health Department establishment should be
amended to include eight Clinic Auxiliaries in place of an equivalent number of Clinic Nurses (State
Registered Nurses), thus reducing the number of trained nurses and providing auxiliaries to carry
out the many and varied duties at all Centres which do not require persons with the qualification
of State Registered Nurse.
The Work of the Health Visitor
Health Visitors continue with home visiting and their other duties, e.g. support of families with
problems and families who are failing socially, and co-operation with all other social workers in all
branches of the social services. Much of their work in certain areas of the City presents intractable
problems, particularly where there is a drifting, moving, population where follow-up work proves
very difficult. Social problems abound and the Welfare Centres become focal points where advice
is sought by many members of the local community. In some cases it is necessary for the enquirer
to be referred to social workers in the Council's service; sometimes problems can be dealt with on the
spot or home visiting arranged if this appears to be indicated; many mothers come for reassurance and
a sympathetic hearing. Health Visitors with their special training are among the first to know the
family and by their continued care and home visiting build up a unique relationship with the family.
In addition, there are the complex problems peculiar to the City where many people arrive hoping to
remain anonymous, but unfortunately bring their worries with them. Often the Health Visitor by the
very nature of her work finds them and guides them to sources of help or deals with the problems
herself if this is possible.
There is also the complexity of many nationalities living in the City, with different patterns of
culture, and who need special care and intensive visiting to help them settle and to use intelligently
the facilities offered. Some of these families need a great deal of support for many months as they find
a sophisticated and highly organized community beyond their comprehension. Much work is done by
the health visiting staff to bridge these differences with patience and sympathy.
Steady and constant work is also carried out in keeping the register of handicapped children up to
date. This gives the latest information available of the number of children who will require special
education facilities in the course of time. At the Infant Welfare Clinics the children are examined at
regular intervals by the medical officers for the normal milestones of development. The health visitor
also advises on general management, feeding difficulties and seeing that the immunization of the
children is carried out.
All clinics continue to flourish; one new ante-natal clinic was opened in the Queen's Park Centre,
attendances grew and have remained steady. In the Harrow Road centre some ante-natal clinics were
closed, due in part to a change of procedure at Paddington Hospital. The Family Planning clinic and
the Catholic Marriage Guidance Advice Centre held at Harrow Road are well attended. An extra
clinic for mothers of mentally handicapped children was started in the south of the City.
Teaching sessions at all the Centres continued and health visitors arranged film shows and talks
as well as following a mothercraft programme. Health education meetings were held every two months.
Staff meetings have been held at intervals throughout the year and talks given by members from other
Departments. This proved an important feature in helping field staff to feel part of a team which
includes all administrative and clerical staff at City Hall.