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HEALTH VISITING SERVICE
(Section 24)
The follow-up of the newly born after their discharge from
hospital with their mothers on the tenth day of puerperium or earlier
is still a very important part of the work of the health visitor.
Additionally, also, the health visitor now follows up those mothers
confined at home earlier than formerly (i. e. on the eleventh day
instead of the fifteenth).
It is commonly found that this visit is very much welcomed
and appreciated and in many cases is the basis on which the relationship
between health visitor and mother and baby is formed.
The health of mother and baby is very much in the balance at
this stage and often causes the health visitor to make a number of
visits to give the mother the advice and support she needs to ensure
the well-being of herself and the child during the first year. The
value of this type of home visiting cannot be over-estimated and where
it does not exist the work of the midwife may well be wasted.
Much has been said about selective visiting of one kind and
another according to the need of the family. It has been our
experience, however, that so much hangs on the first and subsequent
visits in the early life of the child that this type of visiting cannot
be omitted and is regarded as being essential in nearly every case.
Toddlers clinics to some extent have helped to reduce the
number of visits paid to children in the two to five age group. The
number of toddlers visited because they are placed for daily minding
has increased. This is partly because there are more women
offering themselves for daily minding to meet a known demand and
also to see children placed with them for daily minding. Some
women also have been reported as minding more than two children
without being registered. Special visits have been made, therefore,
to acquaint them of their legal responsibilities in this matter. Some
of the latter have not wished to be known to the local authority as
they were unlikely to be registered. Attendances at Toddlers clinics
have also increased and these clinics prove to be popular with
children and with parents. The idea of periodic overhaul for health
appears to have appealed to most parents of children in this age
group.
Campaigns and Research Surveys
Health visitors have been engaged in some special activities
during the year to assist with surveys such as "The National Survey
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