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In the autumn of 1967 there was a serious outbreak of ringworm in one of the schools,
which was eliminated, due to the vigilance and work of the school nurses concerned,early
in 1968,
Research and Surveys
Health Visitors and School Nursing Sisters assisted in the following studies at the
request of hospitals and research organisations:-
a) National Survey of Health and Development.
b) Survey of Childhood Cancers
c) Measles vaccination follow-up.
d) Spina Bifida surveys (2).
Supervisor of Midwives
Miss Clarke states that the Domici 1 iary Midwifery service has continued its work as
usual during the past year. An innovation, which involves the hospital and domiciliary
idwives, together with the Health Visitors, has been the introduction of the Guthrie
Test for the early detection of Phenylketonuria in babies, which replaces the Phenistix
or ''napkin'' test. This has the advantage that it can be done at an earlier age, is more
accurate and enables the appropriate treatment to be started promptly.
Mental Health, Emergency Night Rota
Health Visitors have continued to assist with the duties in respect of the mental
health emergency service for covering nights, weekends and public holidays."
ANTE - AND POST-NATAL CLINICS
Passions are conducted in Council clinics by midwives and medical officers for
ante- and post-natal examinations. In addition four general practitioners undertake
ante-natal work for their own patients in Council clinics which are made available to them free
of charge, and with a domiciliary midwife in attendance (Statistics on page 95 )
ANTE-NATAL MOTHER CRAFT AND RELAXATION CLASSES
These classes are held by domiciliary midwives and health visitors in Council clinics for
both institutional and domiciliary booked cases. (Statistics on page 95)
ADOPTION AND BOARDING-OUT
Children are medically examined by Health Department Medical Officers prior to admission to
children's homes or private foster homes on request from the Children's Department. Reports
are also made to the Children's Officer as to the suitability of persons wishing to adopt or
foster children, and advice provided on children being considered for adoption or boarding out.
During the year 71 children were examined and reports were made on 37 prospective adopters.
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