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THE HEALTH VISITOR AS A LINK IN A TRIPARTITE SERVICE
The National Health Service Act which came into being 20 years ago was the culmination
of a century of health legislation and is certainly a comprehensive service available to everyone.
There are,however, recognised and acknowledged defects and the most criticized one is the
tripartite structure of the service. The need for an integrated health service cannot be overemphasized
and the health visitors in this borough are attempting to act as a link between the
hospital, local authority and general practitioner services.
MOTHERS AND CHILDREN
The ante-natal period gives health visitors an opportunity of establishing the relationship
with the mother which is basic to good health visiting. While assessing and dealing with the
varied needs of the expectant mother and her family the health visitor may act as a link between
the hospital maternity ward sister, consultants, general practitioner, midwife and medico-social
worker.
THE HOSPITAL SERVICE
One health visitor visits Thorpe Coombe Maternity Hospital weekly and attends the antenatal
booking clinic. She deals with the social problems of the expectant mother, thus giving the
medical staff more time to devote to 'obstetric care'. The health visitors carry out follow-up
visits to the home and refer to other agencies those families needing the special help which is
available from statutory or voluntary services. The ward sisters contact the health visitor when
a visit to a patient in hospital is necessary and inform her of social difficulties or feeding
problems before the mother and baby are discharged.
Health visitors visit the paediatric wards in Whipps Cross Hospital twice weekly to act
as a link between home and hospital, supplying information about the child's background,
supporting the family while the child is in hospital, and are aware of the medical care which the
child has received before he is discharged home so that the necessary services may be arranged.
THE ELDERLY
Our main aim is to keep old people as happy and healthy as possible in their own homes
and there are many services, in addition to the health visitors advice and help, to help us achieve
this end, such as Meals-on-Wheels, Luncheon Clubs, Home Helps, District Nursing, Laundry,
Chiropody, Domiciliary Library etc. Sometimes however, the person may be too ill or in need of
rehabilitation to remain at home or the family caring for the old person may need a break from this
task which can be very arduous. This is where the Langthorne Hospital scheme is of great
benefit. The health visitor who visits Langthorne Hospital once a week discusses with the
consultant, medico-social worker and ward sister any admissions and discharges and acts as a
link between the hospital and community giving full information about the patient's background,
visiting the homes to make sure that any recommended services are put into action.
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