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Health Visiting (and Clinic Nursing)
At the end of the year, whilst the establishment for Health
Visitors remained at 58 the equivalent of 29.5 Full-time Health
Visitors were employed.These included three Group Advisors, one
Fieldwork Instructor, 19 Full-time and 17 Part-time Health
Visitors, and three Visitors dealing entirely with persons suffering
from Tuberculosis. In order to allow the Health Visiting staff to
be available as far as possible for duties for which their training
is required. 1 Full-time and 18 Part-time Clinic Nurses were
employed to undertake clinic and School Health work.
Co-operation with general practitioners has increased, with
a greater number of liaison arrangements whereby the Health
Visitor pays a weekly visit to the surgery for a discussion with
the doctor. In addition one Health Visitor is attached to a large
Group Practice, with additional help from a Clinic Nurse for
Ante-natal and Immunisation Sessions held at the surgery.
The Health Visitors undertake domiciliary screening tests
such as hearing assessment of young children where it is not
possible for the mother to attend the clinic, and with a greater
emphasis on medical social work, the number of geriatric visits
has increased considerably over the past two years. Some of the
geriatric visiting is undertaken by the Clinic Nurse under the
Health Visitor. The Health Visiting Staff have also established
a good relationship with voluntary organisations which is proving
of great value.
Health Education forms an important section of the Health
Visitors duties — personal health education is an integral part
of her work, and all personal contacts provide an apportunity
for this. In addition, all the Health Visitors take part in mothercraft
teaching to groups in the clinics, and in many instances these
incorporate a session to which fathers and expectant fathers are
invited.
Some Health Visitors are actively taking part in Health
Education in schools, and give talks etc., to professional and
cultural community groups.
Health Visitors are also engaged in training of staff. The
Fieldwork Instructor, in addition to her designated duties involving
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