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HEALTH VISITING
Staffing- The Joint establishment is of 40 health visitors and Sohool Nurses:
22 are allocated to the Health Committee and l8 to the Education Committee. In addition,
there are 4 tuberculosis health visitors.
Vacancies have existed throughout the year, but over the years a gradual increase
in staff is being achieved. In actual practice, all health visitors undertake duties in the
School Health Service as well as in Maternity and Child Welfare and general public health
work.
The small number of school nurses who are not trained health visitors work chiefly
in the School Health Service, but also undertake clinic duties in the Maternity and Child
Welfare Centres and at Prophylaxis sessions in schools and clinics.
During the year, 5 public health nurses were appointed against vacancies on the
establishment to carry out general duties in child welfare, sohool and prophylaxis clinics
and in the sterilization unit. All these appointments are temporary, and are in addition
to the permanent full-time nurse who works entirely in the prophylaxis and sterilization
services,
At the end of the year the staff was as follows:-
1 Superintendent Health Visitor
22 Health Visitors
1 Health Visitor, part-time (working 6 sessions weekly)
5 School Nurses
3 Public Health Nurses, full-time
3 Public Health Nurses, part-time Equivalent of 33
Eight student health visitors completed training during the year and were appointed
to vacancies: 7 students are still in training. One health visitor was appointed who was
not a Council sponsored student; it is only occasionally that any replies are reoeived to
advertisements for qualified health visitors.
Seven health visitors resigned during the year. Two had been in the department for
6 years; 3 for 3 years, and 2 (not sponsored students) for less than 1 year.
Many of the resignations were on account of domestic reasons.
Of the 23 health visitors on the staff at the end of the year, 20 have been trained
under the Council's scheme. Eleven have been in the Borough for less than 2 years (and
are still under contract) and 6 for only 5 years, the longest period of service being
8 years.
Refresher Courses
Pour health visitors attended post-certificate courses during the year. 1 at
Bedford College, London, in January, 2 at Bristol in July, and 1 attended a course on
the Mental Development of Young Children in London, and also went to Manchester to a course
on screening tests and auditory training. This health visitor has jbeen given special
opportunities because she has been selected to work at the Audiology and Development
Clinics, and at the School for the Deaf.
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