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Much discussion has taken place in our area on the problem of co-operation of
health visitors with general practitioners in order to promote good mental health in
families who need help. In 1959 arrangements were made with one of the most experienced
general practitioners in the area and his partner to hold weekly meetings with a small
group of health visitors. The family doctor kindly offered his home for this purpose
in order to ensure an informal atmosphere for discussion and one hour a week was spent
in discussing the problems of those families in whom these doctors and health visitors
had a common interest. Occasionally a health visitor was most anxious to discuss a case
which did not concern these two general practitioners and when this happened the doctor
concerned was invited to join a meeting.
A great deal was learned from these discussions and not only the families benefitted
but the health visiting in general has become more thorough as the health visitors
knowledge of the family widened and she became better able to understand their particular
needs. The general practitioners are of the opinion that the health visitors are often
able to notice signs of emotional disturbance before any physical symptoms are apparent
for which help might be sought from the Family Doctor. The ability on the health
visitor's part to recognise such emotional crisis and the co-operation with the General
Practitioner at an early stage, may well prevent a complete breakdown in health. Indeed,
in the relatively short period in which these discussions have taken place we have
already had many cases where this close co-operation has proved beneficial to the
patient and his family. Other general practitioners in the area are now realising how
the health visitor may be of help in their practice and are contacting them. Furthermore,
three of the health visitors take it in turn to attend at the surgery of another
family doctor who has reserved one morning for mothers and children. The health
visitors assist with advice on social problems and in particular help with feeding
difficulties.
PREVENTIVE WORK WITH PARENTS
There was a marked increase in the number of mothers asking health visitors' advice
on their children's behaviour problems. No doubt the realisation that such problems do
in fact exist and that they are capable of treatment is due to a large extent to the
considerable publicity given to psychiatry in all its aspects particularly on television
and in the more popular women's weekly journals. In order to enable helpful advice to
be given a closer contact with the Local Child Guidance Centre was established. Apart
from the obvious benefits to the community resulting from such co-operation, it was
felt that health visitors who had some knowledge of preventive psychiatry could play a
part in reducing the ever-growing waiting lists at the Child Guidance Centre.
Since September, 1959, the health visitors have met at regular intervals with the
psychiatric social workers to discuss cases. The meetings at the Child Guidance Clinic
have helped considerably in finding solutions to the problems of parentss
AGED AND CHRONIC SICK
Levton has a high proportion of elderly people and approximately 1,400 were
visited by the health visiting staff. These visits are intended to help old people to
lead a useful life at home and keep them aware of the many services available in the
Borough that assist not only the elderly themselves but also their relatives.
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