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85
"The health visiting staff again gave help and advice to
widows with children and to unmarried, separated and divorced
mothers who are dependent on their own earnings. It is very
important that children should remain with their mothers, and
the day nurseries are able to play a valuable part in this respect
by caring for such children while the mother goes out to work.
"Co-operation has continued between the health visitors and
the general practitioners in Walthamstow. I am pleased to be able
to report that 20 general practitioners have on occasions contacted
the appropriate health visitor during the year and a similar number
of family doctors have been telephoned or visited to discuss cases
on their lists.
"Health education continues to play an important part in
the work of the health visitor. Mothercraft talks were again given
in all secondary modern schools.
"Relaxation classes were held at the three ante-natal clinics
and talks given on the physiology and hygiene of pregnancy,
mechanism of labour and preparation for motherhood, as well as
advice on layettes, nutrition in pregnancy and the use of the gas
and air apparatus. Three further members of the health visiting
staff have received instruction so that reliefs will be available in
the event of staff absences through holidays and sickness. During
the year regular lectures have been given by health visitors to
expectant mothers at Thorpe Coombe Maternity Hospital.
"Requests have been received from several churches for talks
to be given their young mothers' groups on such subjects as
"Accidents in the Home," " First Aid," "Children going into hos'
pital," etc. A health visitor was asked to give a talk to the parents
of the children who attend the Nursery School and another
member of the health visiting staff was asked to speak to boys and
girls at Marsh Street Youth Centre. Talks of this nature are a
valuable method of health teaching and the audiences usually
respond well, asking interesting and intelligent questions which
last for some time after the talk is concluded.
"The health visiting staff co-operated in the practical training
of the following:—
(a) On two occasions I was asked to lecture to domestic
helps who were attending a special course of instruction
arranged at County Hall, Chelmsford. The subjects I was
asked to deal with were as follows: 'Care of the Infant and
Toddler,' 'Accidents in the Home,' 'Food Values' and 'First
Aid.'
(b) Final year nursing students from the Connaught
Hospital spent two days each in the Public Health field for
practical training. Fifteen students each spent half a day
home visiting and for the remainder of the time attended at