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59
The Work of the Health Visitors in the Homes of the Borough.
The visiting of young infants and children under school age
was the primary object of the appointment of Health Visitors, and
remains the most important part of their work.
Information (within 36 hours after confinement) as to all births
in the Borough reaches the Medical Officer of Health under the
requirements of the Notification of Births Acts, 1907 and 1915,
and is by him passed on to the Medical Officer of the Infant
Welfare Department. A fortnight later, i.e., after the doctor or
midwife has probably ceased to attend, the Health Visitor of the
district in which a birth has occurred calls at the home, and does
what she can to help the mother in regard to the care, management,
feeding and clothing of the child, and of other young children
in the house. This arrangement for advice by the Health
Visitors is especially valuable in the case of young mothers with
their first babies, and in poor homes where a trained nurse has not
otherwise been available.
Thereafter, periodic visits are made to the homes of the infants
during the first two years of life, and, so far as possible, at wider
intervals, during the next three years, up to the time when the
child comes under the observation of the School Medical Service.
The limitations that exist to this further visiting are, however,
very great, and have already been touched upon at the beginning
of this Report.
In addition to the routine work of the Health Visitors, special
Visits to the homes are made in reference to cases of Tonsils and
Adenoids, cases of Pneumonia notified in infants, Ante-natal cases,
cases of Puerperal Fever and Pyrexia, cases of Ophthalmia
Neonatorum, etc.
The visits made by the Health Visitors during 1927 were
12,484, as against 10,747 in the previous year.
Births during 1027.
Total number of births registered (including
transfers) 2,320
Number of illegitimate births 69
Number of still-births 57