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39
Section 24 HEALTH VISITING
Current emphasis to improve still further the health services
and the contribution which can be made by the Local Health Authority,
has been based on closer liaison with general practitioners and
hospitals, and expansion of the Health Education programme.
The functions of the Health Visiting Service in Walthamstow are
carried out by seventeen health visitors, three of whom are part-time,
and over the years it has been necessary to make good the shortage of
qualified health visitors by employing five State Registered Nurses
on certain clinic duties. In this situation it has not been easy to
meet the modern challenge, but despite the difficulties mentioned a
considerable degree of success has been achieved.
Some aspects of the work carried out in 1964 are mentioned
below: -
Liaison with General Practitioners
Seven weekly morning or afternoon sessions are held at which
doctors and health visitors work together in a combined effort to
deal both medically and socially with cases where help is needed. In
many instances this arrangement proves how important it is to have
this close link at local level.
Liai son with Hospitals
For many years weekly contact with local geriatric and
paediatric hospital units has been established, resulting in requests
by various departments for approximately 300 home visits during 1964.
This service has now been extended to Claybury Psychiatric
Hospital by agreement with Dr. Pippard, Consultant Psychiatrist.
Already much benefit has been derived from this contact. The
health visitor is able to play a very important part in the prevention
of mental ill-health in her unique role as a family visitor.
Expansion of the Health Education Programme
Apart from the considerable amount of individual health
education, which incidentally is one of the most effective forms,
we have managed to extend the number of sessions devoted to talks
and discussions in schools.
These cover senior girls in seven Secondary Modern departments
and two Grammar schools. Added to this, talks have been given by
request to youth organisations and clubs, young wives groups and
professional bodies on a wide variety of subjects.
Time spent on preparation of education material is often
lengthy and much of this work is done out of duty hours.
This extra-mural work carried out by the health visiting staff
in addition to work in the clinics and homes of the local population
is greatly appreciated.