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Throat, Nose, Ear Conditions.—Instruction in common throat, nose and ear
conditions, and their treatment.
Dental Work.—Preparing patients for fillings and extractions, sterilising
instruments, inspection of school children, recording and clerical work.
District Work.—The work of the District Health Visitor, visiting in the home
and at the Schools, reporting, office work and record keeping.
The training of the Students is under the general supervision of the Clinic Matron.
In May, 1920, the Council's Health Visitors represented to the Health Committee that the
teaching of untrained women took up too much of their time and in addition was inimical to their
profession and the public interests. The Medical Officer of Health was instructed to confer with the
Health Visitors. The following is a minute of the conference:—
The Medical Officer of Health had a conference with the Health Visitors at Municipal
Clinic (1), on May 18th, 1920.
Present.—The Chief Health Visitor, two Matrons and 14 Health Visitors.
The Health Visitors agreed that they were prepared to accept "bona fide students
in training as Health Visitors" for three months practical instruction in the work of a
Health Visitor, provided the students had had previous training as follows:—
(1) Three years nursing training at—
(a) A General Hospital, or
(b) A Women's and Children's Hospital, or
(c) A Children's Hospital, and
(2) A Central Midwives' Board qualification.
The Health Visitors further stated that they were of opinion that during their
three months practical course in the work of a Health Visitor, these students should
attend during the full working day and that they should be recognised as Probationer
Health Visitors and be paid by the Council at the rate of £1 per week plus bonus in force
at the time.
A "Bona fide student in training as Health Visitor" is deemed to be one who
is studying for a recognised certificate as Health Visitor or Sanitary Inspector from a
recognised examining body or board, such as the Royal Sanitary Institute, King's College
for Women, Battersea Polytechnic, and the like.
In connection therewith, the Council at its meeting on the 27th July, 1920, passed the following
report and resolution of the Health Committee:—
"The Medical Officer of Health submitted letter from the Household and Social
Science Department, King's College for Women, University of London, stating that
probably a certain number of women students would be prepared to undertake a three
months' course of practical training in Health Visiting. We recommend that two
students, each of whom shall have had three years' training at a General Hospital, a
Women's and Children's Hospital, or a Children's Hospital, and who hold a Central
Midwives Board qualification, be engaged at each Clinic at a salary of £1 per week, plus
bonus. The students will attend during the full working day and will be recognised as
Probationer Health Visitors. These engagements will be subject to the concurrent
report of the Finance Committee, to the sanction of the Ministry of Health being obtained
and to their paying half of the cost."
The Ministry of Health approved the above arrangement, but the provision made by the
Health Committee in the 1921-22 estimates was not passed by the Council.
6. SANITARY ADMINISTRATION.
1. Staff:—Work of Sanitary Inspectors, Inspectors of Nuisances and other Officers engaged in
Sanitary Work.—Vide Annual Health Report, 1919, p. 47.
The work done by the Sanitary Inspectors during the year 1920 is fully set out in this report
under the heading Sanitary Inspection of District.
2. Hospital Accommodation Available for Infectious Diseases, Including Smallpox; its Character,
Sufficiency and use During the Year; Hospital Administration.
This subject is dealt with in the Annual Hospital Report included in this report and in
Appendix N.
3. Local Acts, Special Local Orders, or General Adoptive Acts in Force in the District (of both
of which a list should be included in the report) and their Administration.—Vide Annual Health Report,
1919, pp. 47 and 48.