View report page

35
Health Visitor Students were successful in passing their examination
and replaced staff who retired or left the service.
In Service Training
The usual refresher courses were cut out this year due to
financial stringencies, but it is hoped to resume these courses next
year as they are a necessity in maintaining efficiency. The technique
of screening tests for deafness was taught to all the Health
Visitors by two Medical Officers, by courtesy of the staff at the
Holy Child Nursery in Chislehurst, so that all children can be
tested in early infancy to exclude hearing impairment, or to treat
it if found, at the earliest possible time, so that speech development
is not impaired.
One Fieldwork Instructor was trained during the year to
replace one who left and students from the University of Surrey,
and Croydon Technical College, received their practical training
in the Borough.
Staff meetings have been held at monthly intervals when a
topic of interest has been discussed, with a speaker, or film, on a
subject relevant to the work.
Training of Students by Health Visitors
Lectures and discussions have been held at the local hospitals
for Student Nurses to gain an insight into the local authority
Health and Welfare services and the students have accompanied
the staff in their work to observe the services at first hand.
Students from other disciplines have also spent time with the
Health Visitors as part of their training.
At Risk Register
A new system of record keeping of babies born at risk of
handicap has been introduced to try and ensure their constant
surveillance in an area where there is a lot of population movement.
Family Planning Clinics
Following the Government's decision to extend the above
service, a new clinic was opened in Penge by the Family Planning
Association on local authority premises, and further facilities are
being made available to expand the service throughout the
Borough, so that Family Planning advice is readily available to all
who require it.
General Practitioner / Health Visitor Co-operation
Seven Health Visitors are working full-time with partnerships
or groups of General Practitioners and three Health Visitors work
in liaison with a specific practice but are geographically based.
Further attachments have been requested but with the present
establishment these requests have been impossible to meet.