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Disposal of Placentae and Offensive Dressings
Disposal points are conveniently situated throughout the Borough for use by
authorised persons. Means have been provided in recently-built tall blocks of
Council flats for disposal of offensive dressings, etc., by incineration.
(See Statistical Tables 13 and 14.)
HEALTH VISITING
Under Section 24 of the National Health Service Act, 1946, it is the duty of
every local health authority to make provision in their area for the visiting of
persons in their homes by health visitors for the purpose of giving advice as to the
care of young children, persons suffering from illness and expectant or nursing
mothers, and as to the measures necessary to prevent the spread of infection.
The work of health visitors has many facets, embracing as it does directly or
indirectly all the Social Services provided for each and every member of the
family. Continuing well below full establishment the Department's Health Visitors
each had, as in the preceding year, a heavy case load of nearly 700 families.
The total number of effective visits was 37,147, which included 34,803 to
mothers, babies and children under five years of age; 1,712 to the elderly; 106 to
mentally disordered persons; 41 to discharged hospital patients (other than maternity);
and 31 to households on account of infectious disease.
Other duties included attendance at ante-natal, post-natal and child welfare
clinics, running mothercraft and relaxation classes, and the important function of
health education practised in the home, clinics and schools.
Use of Ancillary Help
For some years now clinic nurses have replaced health visitors during school
inspections and for clinic work, and have assisted at infant welfare clinics where
voluntary workers also give valuable service.
A survey carried out during the year showed that, on average, health visitors
spent their time as follows :—
Percentage
of time
Visiting (including travelling) 49
Attendance at clinics 26
Clerical work 15
Other duties (e.g. health education) 10
To reduce the amount of time spent by health visitors on clerical work it has
been arranged that clerical officers spend two to three hours a week at the clinics,
and to date this is proving effective.
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