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There are certain factors in this service which should be stated : (1) the
retiring age of Health Visitors is earlier now than it used to be. (2) There is
a great difficulty in obtaining new staff, as the demand is very much greater
than the supply.
Within the next five or six years a number of your staff will retire, and
if the supply position does not improve it will be very serious for the district.
It is desirable that facilities for training should be made available in the
district for Health Visitor Pupils in order to widen the scope through which
candidates can obtain instructions.
It is now apparent from the National Health Service Act that district
nursing will have to become a part of the Health service of the future. In
passing, I would like to pay tribute to the good service and excellent attention
that has been given to the sick in the neighbourhood by the local branch of
the Queen's Nursing Association. This Organisation has experienced the same
difficulties as ourselves in obtaining the necessary staff to carry out the nursing
duties in the district. Great credit is therefore due to the efforts that have
been made by those who have remained, in maintaining their usual high
standard. It is to be hoped that a place will be found for this Organisation in
the Health Service of the future.
It is easy to control, it is effective in application, and efficient in its
work, and altogether a condition of complete satisfaction is established amongst
the General Practitioners, local Hospitals and our own Department.
When necessary the Speech Clinic is available for children under five
years of age by arrangement with the Education Committee. This service has
proved of great value in teaching children of tender years to speak correctly,
and it is extraordinary how quickly children of about three years of age and
upwards, can accept the correction given to them. Through this medium,
habit formation is curbed and the difficulties which would occur in the later life
of the child are avoided.
The dental sessions are held weekly by the School Dentists who devote
this period to the attention of mothers and children under five years of age.
This is not enough, but the restriction is due to the lack of premises to extend,
and until building facilities become available again, it will have to remain a
limited service.
I should like to place on record once again, and for the last time under
the old regime, my appreciation of the work carried out by the staff of the
Maternity and Child Welfare Department whose co-operation has made it
possible to plan and carry out the schemes for the mothers and children of
which the district may be justly proud. The service rendered by this Department
is performed so quietly, so efficiently and effectively that little attention
is ever attracted towards it. The self-sacrifice and devotion to duty of the
medical, nursing and clerical staff is a fact about which I am very proud.
My thanks must also be recorded to the Chairman and all Members of
the Maternity and Child Welfare Committee for their sympathy and understanding
during the year.
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