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This year new patients numbered 1,250 an increase of 170 over last year.
Statistics on page 95.
FEEDING DIFFICULTIES
Facilities are provided at a centre outside the Borough for in-patient treatment
of mothers and babies when breast feeding difficulties are experienced or of babies
with dietary problems. It was not found necessary to utilise these facilities during
the year.
HEALTH EDUCATION
Health education continued to take its part in the department's activities
during the year, albeit at a reduced pace as the Health Education Officer was on
leave of absence attending a teacher training course, and other staff changes took
place in the section.
Liaison with schools continued, the teaching staff now showing more interest in
the work of the department and appreciating the need for health education.Ass istance
was given to the London Hospital with community training of Degree Nursing Students
and to the Superintendent of Home Nursing with in-service training of nursing auxi1iaries.
Statistics on the work of the section are given on page 94.
HEALTH VISITING
Health visitors maintain close liaison with the staff of statutory and voluntary
bodies, genera] practitioners and hospitals in the Borough. Their visits to expectant
mothers and to children under five years of age are shown with other statistics on
page 95. Health education work is carried out by means of personal contact as well as
in group sessions held at the clinics. At the request of the paediatricians concerned
health visitors attended the out-patients departments at hospitals to provide a link
between hospital and home.
The numbers of health visitors including centre superintendents and tuberculosis
visitors employed at the beginning and end of the year were 39 and35 respective!y, these
being 24 resignations and 20 appointments during the year. Command Paper '1973 recommended
an establishment for the year 1967 of 36 health and tuberculosis visitors,
based on aproportion of 0.18 visitors per 1,000 population, which ratio would equate
to 33 staff for the current year.
HOME NURSING
An increasing number of patients are being nursed at home by the District Nurses,
partly because of earlier discharge from hospital e.g. , for sutur'e removing. . 57% of
patients are over 65 years of age.
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