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Section 11 of the Health Services and Public Health Act, 1968 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 made
available in another authority's area 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 48,810, a marked increase on last year
due to increased numbers of staff resulting from the policy of sponsoring and training
students. These visits included 42,915 to mothers and children under five years of
age; 3,080 to the elderly; 262 to mentally disordered persons; 249 to discharged
hospital patients (other than psychiatric cases); and 44 to households on account of
infectious disease.
Other duties included attendance at ante-natal, post-natal and child health
clinics, 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 also continued to attend the Maternity Units at North Middlesex
Hospital. Highlands Hospital and Chase Farm Hospital.
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. At the end of the year three health visitors were
attached to three group practices.
A group adviser health visitor continued to work 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.
Relaxation and Mothercraft
Eighty-six courses on relaxation and mothercraft for expectant mothers were
held at clinics. Most courses consisted of six sessions and during the year 3,805
attendances were made by 746 women.
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