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64
THE WORK OF THE HEALTH VISITORS
The recorded visits include 940 made for special purposes in
connection with re-housing, day nurseries, follow up of hospital
cases and aged persons. The practice of visiting foster children
on behalf of the Children's Officer continued and numbered 812
during 1952. Health Visitors have also dealt with special survey
visits for certain national investigations into child health. They
have continued to demonstrate their complete ability to meet such
varying health and social problems. Co-ordination with hospital
staff was improved by arrangements to further personal contact
between Health Visitors and Hospital Almoners and the extension
of their work to assist directly general practitioners was under
review. The Mothercraft classes commenced in 1951 proved in
such demand that extra afternoon and evening sessions were
required.
The strength of the staff is equivalent to 18 whole time health
visitors. The average for the country of 9 per 100,000 of the
population would give a staffing figure of 23 for Croydon. With
the four whole time Tuberculosis Visitors, the establishment is in
fact sufficient, but difficulties arise when absences through
sickness coincide with interim periods between resignations and
new appointments. Happily I am able to report that so far
qualified applicants have always been forthcoming to meet
vacancies and the need for special training schemes has not arisen.