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Doctors, hospital almoners, other social workers and the Public Health Department
itself, frequently request Health Visitors to make special visits to a household
and submit a report on medical and social conditions in the house; also there are
eleven different "follow-up visits" requested to check on failures to attend hospital
fend welfare clinics.
In 1961 two Health Visitors attended Goodmayes Hospital for a course of lectures
and a short period of practical training in the care of the mentally ill. It is
intended that all Health Visitors will receive this training, for there is no doubt
the this knowledge will be of the utmost value to them in the normal course of
their duties. My grateful thanks are extended to the Medical Superintendent, Matron
had Staff of Goodmayes Hospital, who so kindly welcomed members of my staff and
devoted so much time in planning and giving the Health Visitors such a well deviled
period of training.
During the year a large number of students have been received in Barking for
practical experience within the Public Health Department. Three student Health
visitors each received six weeks practical training. Twelve student nurses from
rush Green Hospital each received two days instruction in preventative medicine.
student District Nurse/Midwives were also received by the Health Visitors for a
lie-day practical instruction in "the work of the Health Visitor".
The valuable co-operation with the statutory and voluntary social workers has
been greatly appreciated by the health visitors, for it is only with their help that
the most good can be achieved for individuals and their families who are in need.
Health education as part of the Health Visitor's duties is slowly being devested.
Mothercraft classes with Relaxation Exercises for ante-natal mothers are
continuing in all Welfare their appreciation of the knowledge and confidence gained. The
use of film strips, flannel graphs and other demonstration material, creates a more
stimulating media of instruction and are enjoyed by staff and mothers alike.
Lectures have be given by members of the health visiting staff to Girl
guides, the British red Cross Society and other voluntary organisations.
The Superintended Health Visitor has continued to give lectures on the
"social Aspects of Disease" to Student Nurses at Rush Green Hospital and to the
f™it District Nurse midwives from the Lady Rayleigh Training Home.
In the field of research health visitors have, as in previous years, taken
part in various survey. The phenylketonuria test of urine of all babies at four
weeks old is now done routine. By the detection and early treatment of cases
phenylpyruvic amentia one form of mental degeneration can be avoided.
tunately the condition are but results depend upon early treatment, so it is
important that this test carried out.
SOME NURSING
This service, together with approximately half of the domiciliary midwifery
sevice still administered from the County Training Home at Leytonstone.
Vaccination and immunisation
I smallpox Vaccination
During the year primary vaccination was carried out for 57 children under the
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