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The Problem Family Working Party's next objective was the formation of a plan that
would give constructive rehabilitation to the families. The work of the group continued
into 1958.
Health Visitors' Meetings
General Meetings
Four of these meetings are usually held each year. All health visitors attend as well
as the Medical Officer of Health, Deputy Medical Officer of Health, Senior Assistant Medical
Officer, Superintendent Nursing Officer and Superintendent Health Visitor. Frequently there
is a guest speaker. These meetings give an opportunity for the senior medical and nursing
staff and the health visitors to discuss new developments in the service to the public, as
well as changes in professional outlook and conditions of service. Guest speakers are
specialists in their own field of work. They are able to give valuable help by outlining
their own responsibilities, by answering questions and by promoting discussion following their
talk. Films are often shown to help illustrate their subject.
As an example, in December, 1957, the subject of the meeting covered help that
could be given to 'Problem Families' in an effort to attain constructive rehabilitation.
The first part of the meeting consisted of discussion on methods to be tried out in West Ham.
This was followed by a guest speaker, Miss Richardson, from the Stepney Family Service Unit,
who spoke about the methods adopted by her colleagues employed in case work with families of
the kind to be included in the West Ham Problem Family Survey.
Health Visitors Consultative Committee
Five meetings were held during the year. Subjects discussed included care of the
blind, work with problem families, changing needs in Maternity and Child Welfare clinic
facilities and preparation of diet sheets for young children. Each group of health visitors,
based on the clinic from which they work, sends a representative to these meetings at which
they meet the Medical Officer of Health, Senior Assistant Medical Officer, Superintendent
Nursing Officer and Superintendent Health Visitor. The Deputy Medical Officer of Health and
other officers were invited when the subject under discussion suggested that 'their comments
and advice would be helpful for a complete understanding of the situation.
Health Education
In the report of the Working Party on the field of work, training and recruitment
of health visitors published in June, 1956, the functions of the health visitor were described
as being primarily health education and social advice.
In thinking of health education against the whole background of the health visitors
day by day contact with the community, the truth of this description of her function can
soon be realised. The health visitor, because she is regularly in the homes of the people
in a particular area, knows their mode of living, their thinking, the traditions that lie
behind that thinking and any need for change of attitude. In most homes there will be the
pressure of advice and advertising given on television, sound radio and from magazines and
the daily press. Young mothers in particular still think highly of the opinions given by
their mother and older neighbours. The health visitor can sort from this mass of advice
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