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43
HEALTH VISITING-
At the end of 1965 the health visiting staff consisted of
the superintendent health visitor, 16 full-time health visitors,
1 tuberculosis visitor, 4 part-time health visitors and 6 part-time
clinic nurses. Approximately 20% of the health visitors' time is
devoted to the school health service.
The health visitor works from the clinic and her district
covers a defined area. Most of her work is done in the home where
she can talk with individuals in their own environment. She
assesses the health potential of the individual and family group and
teaches appropriate health education. The health visitor also
assesses the health needs of the handicapped of all age groups, the
implication of their care on the family, and their continued
maintenance and support in the community. The health visitor is
present at most of the clinics held at her centre. She co-operates
with general practitioners, local hospitals, other social services,
and voluntary organisations. Part of her time is spent in assessing
the needs of the elderly, and her geriatric caseload has increased.
Within the school health service, the health visitor acts
a3 the chief link in health and social matters between the school and
the home. She has close contact with the teaching staff and undertakes
the health supervision of children of all ages, as well as the
teaching of health education.

The number of individual visits made to each case depends
on the circumstances, for example, children under one year are
usually visited more frequently than those over one year.
In addition to the foregoing, the tuberculosis visitor
visited 244 tuberculous households.