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70
Domiciliary midwifery service
There has continued to be a decrease in the number of home
confinements from 442 in 1969 to 385 during 1970. This decrease
has been less than in previous years due to the increased use of the
General Practitioner Obstetric Unit at the Weir Hospital. The
domiciliary midwives delivered 45 cases in the unit during the year
as against eight in 1969. The midwives working in the Roehampton
area have undertaken some deliveries in the Queen Mary's Hospital,
Roehampton, and are responsible for the follow-up maternity
nursing in the mothers' own homes. The midwives have taken
1,145 blood specimens for the Guthrie test. This blood test is
carried out on babies delivered at home, or discharged after 48
hours, or on babies whose previous tests have shown doubtful
results.

Health visiting service
This has been a very busy year for all the health visitors and
we were extremely fortunate that it was possible to fill all the staff
vacancies which occurred. The health visitors have continued to
work very closely with all those agencies concerned with the health
and wellbeing of the families they visit.
Areas with large numbers of immigrants continue to require considerable
health visiting time. These immigrant children are often
from poor families living in multi-occupied accommodation;
fathers may be unskilled or their skills not so readily recognised,
which creates many problems for their families. Children may
speak different languages at home and outside and may have to
act as interpreters for their mothers.
The changes in social attitudes have resulted in many unmarried
mothers making the decision to keep their babies and to look after
them in their own homes, accordingly being anxious to return to
work as soon as possible. These mothers require much help and
support and it is essential that the health visitors liaise closely with
hospital staff and social work agencies.
Health visitors have continued to visit the elderly. Many old people
living alone with handicaps of bereavement, loneliness and financial
difficulties are exposed to physical and mental health risks against
which health visitors provide a valuable safeguard.
The ten health visitor students who were sponsored by the Council
in September, 1969, all qualified and took up duty as health
visitors in September, 1970. being a welcome addition to the staff.