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SCHOOL CHILDREN VISITING THE ELDERLY
Pupils under the guidance of the teacher and the Health Visitor regularly visit selected
old people. These visits are much appreciated by lonely persons who in turn contribute in many
ways to the social development of these youngsters. A school session is set aside to discuss
the situations which are encountered, and we feel sure that this scheme will contribute to the
social awareness of these children. Furthermore, a few fifteen year old girls take it in turns to
attend and help at the play group attached to the Mothers Club at Granleigh Road Clinic.
HEALTH EDUCATION
The work of the Health Visitor at the High School for Girls has been extended to
include the first and fourth year pupils. Discussions are held on such topics as:-
(1) Living in a family
(2) Becoming an adult
(3) Life at school - attitudes to people in authority;
making friends;
being in a crowd
(4) Onset and significance of puberty.
At the request of members of the fifth form, discussion groups are also held after school.
GENERAL PRACTITIONERS
Co-operation with General Practitioners is already very good and many different schemes
are developing in their own individual way. Health Visitors attend weekly clinics and/or
discussions at 19 family doctors' surgeries. Through this exchange of information, problems
come to light much more quickly, especially those related to elderly people and the mentally ill.
A good relationship is established with the expectant mother, and when the baby arrives, the
Health Visitor is already a trusted friend. Congenital defects which are not apparent at birth
become known to the Health Visitor more quickly and, with the help of the General Practitioner,
the family are given the necessary support.
Towards the end of the year one Health Visitor was attached to the General Practitioners
working at Hurst Road Health Centre. There has been much discussion nationally and locally
concerning attachment schemes, and already our relatively short experience has shown the value
of this service.
LIAISON WITH HOSPITALS
Thorpe Coombe Maternity Hospital. This, liaison scheme is now well established. All
expectant mothers are given advice on the social services and how these can be obtained.
Particular help is given to the unmarried mothers who can discuss their difficulties with an
understanding highly-trained person (the Health Visitor working with this hospital is also an
experienced midwife), thus saving the Consultant's time.
Health Visitors also work in close co-operation with Whipps Cross, Langthorne,
Claybury, Connaught and Chingford Hospitals. Regular visits are made to the paediatric,
geriatric and admission wards. The Health Visitor acts as a link between home and hospital,
and by supplying information concerning the patient's home background, the consultant is better
able to decide on the action to be taken.
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