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When the mother end infant are kept at home, close
supervision by the Health Visitors is carried out and all
practical assistance possible is rendered.
A separate bedroom for mother and infant is advocated;
instructions on improvisation and (detailed advice on the
care of the infant are given. The services of a paediatrician
can be called upon and a home help provided where necessary.
(d) CARE OF ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN.
The provisions of Ministry of Health Circular 2866 are
followed and most of the suggestions outlined in the Circular
are covered with the exception that a separate welfare worker
has not been appointed. Close co-operation, however, exists
between the officers of the Welfare Authority and Welfare Workers
at the Kingston Deanery Home and generally. Financial contribution
of 50% (the Surrey County Council paying the other 50%
towards the salary of a fall-time Welfare Worker at the Deanery
Home was granted by the Corporation during the year. Approximately
50% of the time of the worker to b e spent on Kingston
cases.
During the pre-natal stages, Health Visitors are in touch
with expectant mothers and, when necessary, contact the grandparents,
welfare workers in factories, hospitals, almoners, moral
welfare workers and others. Similar contacts are made during the
post-natal stager, and, in addition, admissions to Day Nurseries
are arranged, foster-mothers are visited and attendance at the
Maternity and Child Welfare Clinics is encouraged.
Assistance is given also by hospital almoners and associated
workers who help the mothers to find work and lodgings.
(iv) HEALTH VI SITORS .
The changes in the personnel of the Health Visitors are
indicated at the beginning of this Report.
The Health Visitors are also School Nurses and Child
Protection Visitors.
The Health Visitors while acting as School Nurses are
under the administration of the Surrey County Council which
is the Education Authority for the Area. The school nurses
deal with Kingston schools under the North Central Divisional
Executive Committee which covers Kingston, Maiden, Esher and
Surbiton, and for which Committee your Medical Officer of Health
is also Divisional School Medical Officer.
The work of the Health Visitors in Maternity and Child Welfare
continues to increase.
The Supervision and regular inspection of the day nurseries
forms an important section of the increase.
In consequence of the increased numbers attending the
clinics and the increased birthrate, a considerable strain
is put on the existing health visiting staff.