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11 HEALTH VISITING
All Local Authorities have a duty under Section 24 of the
National Health Service Act, 1946, to provide a health
visiting service. The Council's establishment for Health
Visiting staff consists of the equivalent of 43 full-time
Health Visitors, 22 Clinic Nurses, together with 3
Interpreters.
The statutory function of Health Visitors is the care of
mothers and young babies and this is carried out by
means of home visits, consultations at clinics and group
discussions with parents until the child is five years of
age.
During the year, 1872 infant welfare sessions were held
in clinics, and 800 other clinic sessions were devoted to
the care of mothers and young children.
The major part of a Health Visitor's work is still home
visiting, incorporating the wider concepts of health
education and social advice to the whole family. Her
main work is in the prevention of physical, emotional and
mental ill health, early detection of deviations from the
norm, recognition of needs and the appropriate
resources available.

STAFF TRAINING
Five sponsored students successfully completed their
training and joined the staff in September, and six more
are currently training at recognised colleges.
The practice of sending Health Visitors on refresher
courses at regular intervals was continued, and staff
were kept well informed of new trends and modern
concepts appertaining to their work by in-service training.
HEALTH EDUCATION
Teaching in various types of groups and schools continued
and the principle that Health Visitors teaching in senior
schools must have an additional teaching certificate was
maintained, four Health Visitors at present holding this
qualification.
CLINIC NURSES
Clinic Nurses continued to take much of the routine work
off the shoulders of the Health Visitors, by taking part
in the whole range of the Council's Clinic Services.