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appropriate hospital form the information is passed to the
Registrar General. All children so notified are kept under constant
surveillance.
67 notifications were received during 1968 of which 60 were in
respect of live births and 7 stillbirths. The total number of malformations
was 90 and the number of children with multiple
malformations was 17.
Notifications of intention to practise
In accordance with the rules of the Central Midwives Board
151 midwives notified their intention to practise within the
Borough during the year 1968.
HEALTH VISITING
Miss B. N. Chandler, s.r.n., s.c.m., h.v.cert.,
Dip.Soc.Studies (Lond.)
Owing to the increase in population and the wider field of
duties undertaken by the Health Visiting Staff, the establishment
was increased to 42 in the latter half of the year. Additional duties
have arisen following the introduction of the Health Services and
Public Health Act, 1968, which by amending certain provisions of
the Nurseries and Child Minders (Regulation) Act, 1948, meant
that far more people undertaking the care of children for reward,
were now required to be registered.
During the year three Student Health Visitors were sponsored,
and two qualified. Eight Student Health Visitors were given facilities
for field work instruction and were successful in passing their
examination. In addition 102 Student Nurses from local hospitals
were given an insight into health visiting duties and this was
followed by lectures and discussions on the work. Over 37,000
effective home visits were paid to mothers with young babies, and
additionally over 7,000 visits were paid where no reply was
obtained. Where the population movement in parts of the Borough
varies from 20 per cent to 25 per cent this is inevitable, and
additional visits became necessary to trace these families. There
has been an increase in the number of miscellaneous visits, including
visits to aged persons, and to households where no other
statutory visitor is available, and where the Health Visitor can
then act as liaison officer with the other services. Liaison visits to
hospitals and the interests in the multiplicity of community services
continue to take much of the time available and over 5,000 visits
of this nature were paid. A health education programme is part of
the normal curriculum at three senior schools and talks have been
given in connection with programmes to prepare children for their
adult life and responsibilities.