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we have two Health Assistants, both of whom perform most
useful work.
Our average strength of Health Visitors in the Area
during the year has been as follows:
20 Health Visitors and School Nurses
1 School Nurse
2 Health Assistants
During the year, four members of the staff left our
service. Fortunately, although Health Visitors are in very
short supply, it was possible to recruit three whole-time
Health Visitors and one part-time Health Visitor to take
their places.
During the year 1,318 visits were paid to expectant
mothers; 20,872 to children under 5; 2,684 to school children,
and 1,976 to other cases, including old persons. In making
these visits, approximately 15,500 households were visited.
Our Health Visitors, School Nurses and Health Assistants
are supervised by an Area Superintendent of Health Visitors and
by a Deputy Superintendent. Both ladies are under the
immediate control of the Senior Assistant Medical Officer.
In supplying the figures set out above, it is quite
impossible to present an adequate picture of the work of a
Health Visitor. The duties of the modern Health Visitor have
been greatly extended since the coming into force of the
National Health Service Act. Thus, their duties are no
longer confined to the care of mothers and children under
the age of five; they are now expected to undertake much
wider duties, including the care of the aged and close
liaison with general practitioners working in the districts
for which they are responsible. The influence which Health
Visitors can bring to bear on mothers during visits to the
home or during talks at the clinic, is invaluable. Their
work in regard to schools and school children is of equal
importance.
Our Health Visitors are allocated to main clinics,
from which they operate. They are thus enabled to get to
know their district, and to establish close and cordial
relationship with the mothers with whom they come into
contact. In like way, each Health Visitor is allocated
several schools in the same district, so that their work
among children under five and school children can be closely
integrated and will follow on as a natural sequence. We
encourage Health Visitors to visit schools, to consult with
Head Teachers, and to be aware of problems as they arise.
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