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106
CHILDREN NEGLECTED OR ILL TREATED IN THEIR
OWN HOMES
(Ministry of Health Circular 78/50 and Prevention of Break-up
of Families—Ministry of Health Circular 27/54)
All possible action has been taken in regard to neglected and
ill-treated children and to "problem families." Such action was
facilitated by the appointment of a Woman Visitor to assist the
Male Inspector of the N.S.P.C.C., whose area headquarters are
situated in Walthamstow. Help in regard to the increasing number
of problem families was much appreciated.
Full contact has always been maintained with all organisations
and persons who are interested or can help in any particular case.
The number of such organisations and/or persons totals at least 15
and as urgent action became necessary from time to time, it was
found more convenient to discuss such action with those persons
who were directly involved in any particular aspect rather than to
try and convene regular and full case conferences.
Apart from the Family Doctor, the persons who contributed
most were the Health Visitor and the Domestic Help, and where
appropriate, the Home Nurse. Amongst the domestic helps, both
whole-time and part-time, there were many who were considered
ideally suitable to help in rehabilitation, but such were the demands
on the service and the shortage of helps generally, that it was
not always possible to allocate the most suitable help for any
problem family requiring such help. Arrangements were made to
maintain a register and full records of these families.
HEALTH EDUCATION
Throughout the year the Health Visiting Staff have carried out
a regular series of lectures and film shows to expectant and nursing
mothers, on subjects such as Breast-feeding, Home Safety, Child
Development, etc.
The Health Visitors have also given lectures and film shows to
girls of school leaving age on Mothercraft.
Between the 8th and 15th October, the County and Borough
Councils co-operated with the Walthamstow Chamber of Commerce,
who were holding a "Shopping Week" by providing an exhibition
in the Old Monoux School Building, High Street. The exhibition
referred to the Clean Food Campaign of the Local Sanitary
Authority, and the Personal Health Services provided by the Essex
County Council with special emphasis on the following:—
Vaccination against Smallpox.
Immunisation against Diphtheria..
Health Visiting Services.
Home Nursing and Midwifery Services.
Prevention of Tuberculosis.
Dental Hygiene.
Accidents in the Home.