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79
Of this number, 887 notifications were excluded from those to be visited, for the
reasons given below:—
(i.) 286 notifications sent in by the midwives of the Medical Mission, 45,
Harman Street. In every case which these midwives attend, they invite the
mother to call at the Home regularly, to have the baby weighed and examined ;
the majority of these patients like to keep in touch with the Home, and go there
frequently.
(ii.) 306 notifications sent in from certain homes. In these cases the occupation
of the father, and the general tone of the surroundings indicate that the
standard of life, might reasonably be expected to be higher than in other parts
of the Borough. I regret very much that this exclusion is necessary, for it is
amongst people of this class, that the most satisfactory work can be done, and
the results are most apparent; whilst such work might not affect the infantile
mortality rate, it would certainly have a beneficial effect upon the health of the
children.
(iii.) 106 notifications of births occurred in the Holborn Infirmary, Shep
herdess Walk, the parents not belonging to this Borough.
(iv.) 63 notifications in cases when the death of the infant had occurred
shortly after birth.
(v.) 63 notifications, related to stillborn children.
The remaining 1,641 notifications were not followed up, solely through lack of
time.
Interviews.
This year I have spent much time in getting into touch with the Secretaries of
local Associations for the relief of Distress, Almoners of Hospitals, and midwives, &c.,
all of whom have rendered me much help. I am now thoroughly acquainted with
the Borough, and therefore I expect to be able to pay a larger number of visits
to infants in the forthcoming year.
General Remarks.
If health visiting were merely a matter of teaching the ignorant it would be
much simpler than it is ; but there are many other factors to be reckoned with:
wages, unemployment, ill-health, housing conditions, drink and crime all have
their influence on the health of the infant, before and after birth.
This being considered it can easily be seen that it is hardly to be expected that
the work of health visiting alone can effect any marked changes, especially in a short
time.