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PERSONAL HEALTH SERVICES
Existing Clinic Provision
Full information in respect of the Council's clinics and the key to the services
provided, is set out in a table to be found on page 108.
Co-ordination and Co-operation with Hospital and General Practitioner Services
All midwives are attached to General Practitioner/Obstetricians and during the year
General Practitioners were approached and discussed the possible attachment and
allocation of health visitors and home nurses to their group practices and partnerships.
Doctors in a group of four Practices led the way by having a health visitor in their
premises and from the knowledge and experience gained in this situation a relationship
was built up in many other parts of the Borough. It was rewarding to find, when
introducing home nurses to the General Practitioners, how often the Practitioners
showed an eagerness to also have a health visitor attached as soon as possible. By
1st October, after careful preparation, all home nurses were attached, and this closer
association has led to the more effective use of staff.
Student visitors from the Bamet General, Edgware General, Harperbury and
Middlesex Hospitals were welcomed to observe health and welfare services. A closer
link with Harperbury Hospital was gained, as student nurses were given lectures on
community care of the handicapped and were able to visit some of the families of
these patients.
The attendance of staff at the Paediatric Units at Edgware General and Bamet
General Hospitals has proved invaluable. One health visitor spends one morning a
week at the Premature Baby Unit, Maternity Unit and Children's Ward at Barnet
General Hospital. Another health visitor attends the Ante-Natal Unit at Edgware
General Hospital once weekly. These visits help the staff to know their hospital
colleagues better and give a more complete service to the family. The liaison with
Edgware General Hospital, Geriatric Department, is now well established and is
clearly appreciated by that Department, health visitors and patients.
Health Visiting
Some aspects of the health visitor's work began to change. The family unit was
benefitting from her wider knowledge gained through a close working relationship
with General Practitioners, and age groups not previously well known to the health
visitor were rapidly constituting an important part of her work. Consultation, and
group work with young mothers were replacing the routine weighing sessions in
Child Welfare Clinics.
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