View report page

21
There is no form of preventive work either by the doctor or
the health visitor which takes up so much time as re-establishing
failing lactation, and if we are to see a diminution in the number
of artificially fed infants in the Borough of Hornsey, it is necessary
that this question shall be specifically considered and more
time spent upon it.
Additional Duties.
The Health Visitors attend at the Centre on the days when
consultations are held in their area, and thereby maintain an
unbroken fine of contact between the child, the mother, the
doctor and themselves. It is realised that if the greatest result
in education of the mother is to be obtained in the shortest
possible time it is urgent that all forces working shall work in
unison, that there shall be no deviation in the smallest particular
in advice given.
Lectures and Health Talks.
Classes are held by the Health Visitors at each Centre once
a week for a more theoretical education of the mothers.
A syllabus of lectures and discussions is made out each term
and a very wide field is covered. Though the course is carefully
graded the subjects may be as diverse as physiology and housing,
psychology and dentition.
It is interesting to note that at these health talks quite a
number of older parents attend, and this is encouraged, for it is
often those women whose children are growing up who are the
most useful as propagandists either of wise or unwise doctrines
that eSect preventive medicine.
The Staff of Voluntary Workers.
The Voluntary Workers attend the Centre with the same
regularity as the professional staff, and work is planned by their
Committee with reference to the Medical Officer of the Centre.
Each has her allocated duty to which she is trained and
which she has done once or twice weekly for a period of from
6 to 8 years. This work consists of secretarial work and keeping
oE a day book of records, correspondence for the doctor to
hospitals, etc., and the weighing of infants and children.
The work is done thoroughly and accurately, and makes
for speed and efficiency in the conduct of the Clinics.