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demonstrations. The midwives found these visits both interesting and
informative. The hospital midwifery sisters had reciprocal visits to the
district and evidently found the practice of domiciliary midwifery a
stimulating experience.
Screening for Phenylketonuria
From the 1st October, 1969 the phenistix method of testing for
phenylketonuria was replaced by the more reliable Guthrie blood test,
which estimates the level of phenylalanine in the blood. This test is carried
out between the sixth and fourteenth day after birth. Hospital authorities
are responsible for collecting blood from infants born in hospital and not
discharged on or before the sixth day. Domiciliary midwives collect blood
from infants born in hospital and discharged on or before the sixth day and
also from those born at home.
Notification of intention to practice
Nineteen midwives notified their intention to practice within the
Borough as is required under the rules of the Central Midwives Board.
Health Visiting
Establishment
The total health visiting establishment at 31st December, 1970, was as
follows
Superintendent Health Visitor
Deputy Superintendent Health Visitor
Group Advisors 3
Fieldwork Instructors 5
Health Visitors 22
Clinic Nurses 9
Liaison with General Practitioners and full Attachment to Group Practices
Liaison with group practices has continued and proved to be most,
helpful and beneficial for the patients of the practices concerned. Liaison
is based on a working arrangement between general practitioners and
health visitors, who attend the practices once a week, for discussions,
which are followed by visits to patients, as necessary.
Follow up work has widened the type of visit of the health visitor. She
has been involved with marital problems, teenage problems, menopausal
problems, early mental depressions and geriatric visits. This is changing
the function of the health visitor to cover a wider range of visits to all
members of the family who would benefit by the health visitor's supporting
visit.