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Health Visitors and Clinic Nurses
The shortage of qualified health visiting staff continued
during 1970. This necessitated the acceptance of a health visiting
service which did not reach the standards the health visitors
themselves would like to achieve.
Although health visitors continue to be general advisers to
families on personal health, emphasis has been placed on work in
connection with the well being of the young, the elderly and the
handicapped in the community. Particular attention has been paid
to screening for early detection of mental and physical handicap,
and the assessment of the growth and development of children
throughout infancy and school life.
Clinic nurses have continued to carry out duties requiring
the services of trained nurses, but not necessarily the health
visitors' specialised skills. This has ensured economical use of
personnel.
Three student health visitors successfully completed their
training in the Autumn, and four were sponsored by the Borough
and commenced training in September, 1970.
Staff in post, where appropriate, were sent on refresher
courses and opportunities were taken to send staff on short inservice
and post certificate courses, study days, etc. Staff meetings
are arranged regularly for health visitors and clinic nurses
at which discussion and dissemination of information are incorporated.
Senior staff have continued to take part as lecturers in inservice
and full-time training of other groups.
Good liaison and co-operation between health visitors,
family doctors and social workers has been maintained. Senior
health visitors have continued to make regular weekly liaison
visits to Oldchurch, Harold Wood and St. George's Hospitals.
This is still proving a most valuable link between the hospitals
and the community services.
Health visitors have undertaken as much health education
as possible. More could have been done in the schools if the
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