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37
THE WORK OF THE HEALTH VISITORS
Miss L. E. Oakley, S.R.N., S.C.M., H. V. Cert.
Superintendent Health Visitor
With Poliomyelitis vaccination settling into a steady
routine, Health Visitors have been able to give more attention
to other aspects of their work.
The introduction of the Phenylketonuria Test has necessitated
more visiting in the early days of an infant's life. The test
is carried out when the babe is between five and six weeks old.
The reason for the procedure is explained to the mother at the
first visit and the test is done either in the home or at the
Infant Welfare Centre some three to four weeks later. All that
is required from the babe is a wet napkin - surprisingly difficult
to get sometimes. Over 2,800 such tests - all negative
have been carried out since the scheme was started on 1st April.
It says much for the good relationship existing between mother
and Health Visitor that there have been only four definite
refusals.
The programme for the early detection of deafness in babies
at nine months of age, which was commenced during the year, is
based upon a register compiled by the Superintendent Health
Visitor. To the usual discharge reports from hospital and domiciliary
midwives, which are sent to the Health Department, there
has been added an item about any of the conditions liable to
cause deafness in babies. Further names are added from reports
of family doctors or Health Visitors and a list of children "at
risk" is thus obtained.
Until a definite decision has been made about any particular
child, it is the Health Visitor's responsibility to follow-up
the case for attendance at the special Audiology Clinic. To
suggest the possibility of deafness to an unsuspecting parent is
a serious matter and must clearly be handled most carefully.
Initial efforts to approach parents by letter were not very
successful and it was felt that if the first approach must come
from the Health Department, the Health Visitor, who is known to
the family, should do so by means of a personal visit.
As the one home visitor in the social set-up who visits
families without waiting to be called in because things have
gone wrong, the Health Visitor is in an excellent position to
see the first signs of stress. She tries not only to prevent
Physical breakdowns from occurring, but mental and social ones