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Health education
The essential work of health education has continued to be
carried out enthusiastically by the health visitors, school nurses,
home nurses and midwives. Advice on health matters can be given
during private consultations with parents and children, in group
discussions in centres, clubs and schools, or in the more formal
atmosphere of the planned talk or lecture series provided by various
persons speaking on specific subjects. Health visitors are well aware
of their responsibility to assist in presenting health topics in an
acceptable way to the general public. They are in an advantageous
position in that they have been trained in the principles of education
and of methods of changing attitudes. They meet children of
all ages and mothers at a time when they are particularly receptive
to new ideas and information, and even though their attempts to
educate may not induce parents to change their own habits, the
parents' attitudes towards their children may well become more
constructive. In the important sphere of home safety, their efforts
supplement those of the Council's Accident Prevention Officer.
Centre activities
Relaxation classes and talks on mothercraft are held at eight
centres. The teaching is a combined effort as health visitors and
midwives are involved in the talks, demonstrations and films
that are shown. There are four mothers' clubs held at weekly
intervals in four of the clinics, creche facilities being provided for
the children of mothers attending a club. Health visitors, midwives
and speakers from all types of agencies and organisations are
invited to speak and give demonstrations on a wide variety of
topics that affect the health and wellbeing of the total family. A
class is held for the elderly at one Centre, which is very popular.
Schools
A number of schools have asked for health visitors to participate
in planned programmes of health education. These programmes
are no longer restricted to mothercraft teaching for girls but are
designed to be truly comprehensive in that they include all aspects
of the mental and physical health of the individual, and thus to
create an awareness of the individual's role and responsibility in
the community.