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60 Report of the Medical Officer of Health for 1937.
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.
The Work of the Health Visitors.
The number of Health Visitors under the Maternity and
Child Welfare Scheme has been increased during the year from
eleven to thirteen. One of the new appointments was decided
on because of the increase in the duties which Health Visitors
are now called upon to perform, and the other is to replace the
Superintendent of the Clapham Infant Welfare Centre, who is
appointed by the Committee of that Centre, and who has tendered
her resignation to take effect early in the new year.
The duties of the Health Visitors are as follows:—
All the first visits to Infants are carried out by the Health
Visitors, who are also responsible for the re-visiting, except in
the areas served by the Clapham, Balham and Putney Park Infant
Welfare Centres. At these three Centres the re-visiting of those
infants who are in regular attendance is carried out by the Trained
Superintendents appointed by the Committees of the Centres
concerned.
As stated above the Superintendent of the Clapham Infant
Welfare Centre has tendered her resignation, which becomes
effective next year. The vacancy has been filled by the appointment
of a Health Visitor, in accordance with the decision of the
Council, made in 1927, to replace Superintendents by Health
Visitors as vacancies occur.
The Health Visitors attend the infant and ante-natal sessions
held at the Centres throughout the Borough, and there is always
one or more present at each session, the actual number required
to be in attendance depending on the scope of the work. At the
Clapham, Balham and Putney Park Centres the Committee
Superintendent attends each session, and there is also a Health
Visitor present.
Infectious Diseases.—All cases of Puerperal Fever, Puerperal
Pyrexia, and Ophthalmia Neonatorum are visited on