View report page

The two Play Groups for the mentally handicapped children continue to meet weekly
and these children are being cared for by voluntary workers. However, the health visitor may
be able to help these mothers by giving them an opportunity to discuss their money problems
and being readily available for advice.
Mothers' Clubs
These continue to meet monthly, one in the afternoon, where two school girls regularly
assist with the care of the children, and one in the evening. The programmes for both these
clubs are varied and cover a wide range of interests, such as cookery, flower arranging, discussions
on current problems including social problems, a talk and questions being answered
by a member of the Parks Department on problems in the garden, and several very successful
social events, including a cheese and wine party to which husbands were invited. Outings
are also arranged where groups of mothers and children went to the London Palladium and
thoroughly enjoyed the pantomime.
Rent Arrears
The health visitors have continued during the year, working in close liaison with the
Housing Department and the Social Work agencies to prevent the breakup of families within
the borough. Perhaps one of the most significant points arising from this year's figures, is
the number of one parent families (in these cases the one parent being the mother) who are
finding it very difficult to cope with their financial problems.
Year
Notifications to H.Vs
for investigation
Discussed at Co-Ord.
Committee
No. of one
parent families
1970 753 237 81
This figure shows that slightly more than I in 10 is a one parent family.
Home Nursing
and Midwifery
The district nurses paid more visits than ever before and there was an increase in
requests for care for the over sixties.
The attachment schemes &ith General Medical Practitioners and General Practitioner
Obstetricians continued to develop and show beneficial results in better standards of patient
care.
The nurses, midwives and doctors work well together; there is more enthusiasm and
a greater sense of achievement for all workers.
Good co-operation exists between the Hospital services and the Local Health Authority
services and the work of the liaison officer is of great benefit. In the domiciliary midwifery
service the number of home confinements decreased slightly in 1970, and this was counterbalanced
by an increase in the number of patients discharged early from hospital and cared
for in their own homes by the district midwives.
The relationship with Thorpe Coombe Maternity Hospital is very good and the midwive
are anticipating an even closer relationship when they will be permitted to take their patients
into the hospital for delivery under the care of the domiciliary team.
The provision of sterile supply by Whipps Cross Hospital for the maternity requirements
of district patients is most useful.
- 25 -