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46
reports give an indication of the difficulties encountered
and the general effect of health visiting of the child under
5 years of age. I have excluded from their reports matters
other than health visiting under the Maternity and Child
Welfare Service.
Burnt Ash Area.
Miss Crowe reports: "In the last few years, with the
building of so many houses for sale, the character of the
Burnt Ash area has altered. Half the population being
now young people buying their own houses and starting
families; the other half being "London" mothers with
children at school, and perhaps one or two under school
age.
There are two distinct types to visit; on the one hand
we have the young, hopeful, enthusiastic mother starting
life and bringing up her babies, asking for and appreciating
detailed advice, instruction, and an explanation of the
health services of the Borough to which she has just come.
On the other hand there is the older, but by no means
wiser mother, tired out after bringing up a large family
accompanied by a struggle to make ends meet. The latter
type needs cheerful visiting, encouragement, simple
advice, which she has the means to carry out, and very
often extra nourishment.
It is a very rare occurrence to experience an ineffectual
visit and most of them coming under this category are
really " out." At the moment there are five ineffectual
visiting homes; one dirty and slummy—the mother does
not believe in welfare or visits; two homes have their own
doctor following-up the babies; one, a Midland's mother,
suspicious of "nosey-parkers," and lastly a superior
mother who "keeps herself to herself."
Each new baby is visited at the fourteenth day, or a'
soon as possible afterwards, until the mother and baby are
satisfactory or are attending the welfare centre; the records
of the case in card form are kept in the Health Visitors
wallet and re-visited. After the primary visits it takes
from eighteen months to two years to revisit the whole
area,