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HEALTH VISITING AND SCHOOL NURSING
The year was marred by the serious illness of the Superintendent Health Visitor
whose death early in January, 1961, we record elsewhere. During her absences in
hospital Miss Stewart deputised for her and she has submitted the following report.
During i960 there have been some significant changes in the work of the health
visitors—integration with the school health service has been commenced, and now three
health visitors are doing the combined work of school nursing and health visiting. This
first step towards complete integration is much appreciated for it has long been felt that
interest in the family was cut when the child reached school age.
Also in 1960, the appointment of a health vistor responsible for the over sixties was
made to replace Mrs. Broad who left to take up health visiting training.
Two of the health visitors, Miss Collyer and Miss Rudd, attended an intensive
week-end course at the Institute of Natural Childbirth to study the Pierre Vellay method
of teaching relaxation to ante-natal patients. Another health visitor, Mrs. Smith, attended
a two-weeks' course at Nottingham University, devoted to methods of teaching,
and in December seven of the staff attended a two-day course at Chelmsford on mental
health.
Three student health visitors received practical training under the guidance of the
health visitors, and during the year several groups of third-year nurses from Oldchurch
Hospital spent two afternoons with health visitors to see something of their work.
In December, the health visitors started to re-visit all families who have been rehoused
on medical grounds. This investigation has not yet been finished, as over 250
families have to be visited and detailed reports given on each family.
Tuberculosis Health Visitors
Apart from routine work, the health visitors play an active part on the Committee
of the Dagenham Tuberculosis After Care Association. Besides attending meetings of
the Association on the third Friday evening of each month, they accompany children
and ex-patients on various outings, collect money with other members and hold jumble
sales and sales of work. Mrs. Garrard, who is the honorary secretary of the Association,
also organises the Christmas Seal Sale.
School Nurses
The school nursing staff lost three of its more recent recruits during the year and
their places were taken by three of the health visitors taking over their schools and clinics.
The main work of the school health department, however, still falls to the school nurses
who have carried out 2,670 home visits, 520 medical inspections and 3,664 clinic sessions
as well as the specialist clinics, the weekly swimming instruction for the physically
handicapped children from the special school and a greatly increased number of immunising
sessions for poliomyelitis, whooping cough and diphtheria.
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