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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.
Ministry of Health Circular 31/68 drew attention to Section 11 of the Health
Services and Public Health Act, 1968, and indicated that it enables local health
authorities to make provision for the visiting by health visitors of persons elsewhere
than in their homes, the aim being to promote the more effective deployment of
staff and to facilitate co-operation between general practice and local health authority
services. The section also provides for arrangements between local health authorities
for the services of health visitors employed by one authority to be used by another
authority on agreed terms and conditions.
The work of health visitors has many facets, embracing as it does directly or
indirectly all the health and social services provided for each and every member of
the family.
The total number of effective visits was 45,654, a marked increase on last year
due to increased numbers of staff resulting from the policy of sponsoring and training
students. These visits included 40,941 to mothers and children under five years of
age; 3,277 to the elderly; 188 to mentally disordered persons; 219 to discharged
hospital patients (other than psychiatric cases); and 38 to households on account
of infectious disease.
Other duties included attendance at ante-natal, post-natal and child health
clinics, running mothercraft and relaxation classes, and the important function of
health education practised in the home, clinics and schools.
Liaison with Hospitals and General Practitioners
Health visitors attended the paediatric clinic at Chase Farm Hospital, where
advice and instructions given by the consultant paediatrician are passed on, by those
attending, to their colleagues in respect of the children in their areas.
Health visitors have also commenced attending the Maternity Unit at North
Middlesex Hospital, as well as the units at South Lodge Hospital and Chase Farm
Hospital, which they have attended for a number of years.
Arrangements continued for health visitors to have closer liaison with medical
group practices. Under this scheme, the health visitor attends the local authority
clinic as usual, but her visiting covers the families of the medical group practice
instead of a geographical area.
A group adviser health visitor now works in close liaison with geriatricians at
both St. Michael's and North Middlesex Hospitals, so that services needed by the
aged on discharge are arranged and follow-up visits made by health visitors.
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