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Last, but not least, the health visitors continued their important
work of health education. Many more groups of the public approached
the department with requests for "talks" on a variety of health topics.
Every effort was made to fulfil these requests. Seven evening film shows
were organised for groups of "expectant" parents with gratifying attendances
of between 40 and 60 people at each showing. In addition, Fathercraft
Classes were held at the Cecil Park and Honeypot Lane Clinics.
This was a new venture and as the response has been encouraging it
seems to have been a well worthwhile experiment. Miss Watson, the
Superintendent Health Visitor, is making plans to extend these lectures
and anticipates using the Caryl Thomas Clinic as it is more central for the
whole area. Good reports come from the young mothers and appreciation
from the husbands has been expressed. This series of four evening lectures
helps to give a better understanding of the changes a baby makes to home
life and assists both parents to overcome minor difficulties that can so
easily become problems of our day.
Much medical and social research sponsored by a variety of bodies
is carried out during each year and, as is so often the case in research,
much field work is involved. In this facet of the research the local health
authority is often asked to help. Both medical and nusing staff are involved,
but in the main the heavier load falls on the health visiting staff, who are
often busy obtaining replies to questionnaires addressed to mothers and
young children.
Among other research projects carrying on from previous years, in
1963 the Department co-operated in a new project being undertaken by
the Department of Medicine of St. Thomas's Hospital Medical School.
The project is under the general direction of Dr. W. W. Holland, Senior
Lecturer in Social Medicine.
The aim of this research is to carry out a prospective investigation
into the susceptibility of respiratory disease on children born inthe Wards
of Stanmore South, Belmont, Kenton, Roxeth, Roxbourne and West
Harrow. This research involves all babies born in these districts from the
1st July, 1963, being visited by the health visitors who give a short questionnaire
on conditions of birth and illnesses in other members of the family.
A one-in-three sample of these is visited by members of the Hospital's
Social Medicine Department, who test the lung function of the babies and
other members of the family.
The object of the research is to try and obtain the same data on the
alterations in lung function in babies in relation to other members of
their family and further to see how this may correlate with serious
respiratory disease in childhood.
No medical advice is given. If anything of note is found by the
team from St. Thomas's, this is only disclosed to the general practitioner
and suggestion made to the patient that he/she consults the practitioner
for advice.