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HEALTH VISITING
In view of the increasing overlap of counselling services it seems
necessary to define the function of the health visitor. The following definition
is that given by the National Body in agreement with the World Health Organisation.
"Health Visiting is a specialised field of nursing and exists for
the promotion of health, the improvement of conditions in the social
and physical environment, rehabilitation, and the prevention of
illness and disability."
The health visitor provides a continuing service, having the following
aspects: -
1. The prevention of mental, physical and emotional ill health and its
consequences.
2. Early detection of ill health and the surveillance of high risk groups.
3. Recognition and identification of need and mobilisation of appropriate
resources to meet it where necessary.
4. Health teaching.
5. Provision of care; this includes support during periods of stress,
advice and guidance in cases of illness, and in the care and management
of children. The health visitor should not, however, be actively engaged
in technical nursing procedures.
To prepare for this work the state registered nurse must have completed a
recognised course in obstetric nursing or midwifery, followed by a course in
health visiting which now lasts one calendar year. Practical tuition, interposed
during academic training, is given by a trained fieldwork instructor. The
health visitor student then undergoes a three-month period of supervised
practice before qualification.
Unfortunately, there is a shortage of trained nursing staff with the
appropriate academic standard who offer themselves for this field of service.
Due to several staff leaving the Borough on retirement or for pastures
new, it has been necessary to take the regrettable step of changing the existing
visiting areas in order to provide as comprehensive a service as possible during
the period of shortage and when recruitment is difficult.
Ancillary staff have been appointed, but there is further scope for the
use of less qualified staff in supportive roles.
There has been some improvement in liaison with the general practitioners
in the Borough chiefly through health visitors' referrals to the family doctor
and discussions with other medico-social workers in the hospital field.
There is still too little co-ordination with regard to the social problems
of school children, but it is hoped that as the health visitor becomes better
known in the school health service, discussions with head teachers will help to
close this gap.
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