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17
(9) The Health Visiting Service.
The Superintendent Health Visitor reports as follows:—
During 1947 five well-known members of the staff left: Miss
Blanchard, Superintendent Health Visitor, retired; and also Miss
Hockin and Miss Whitaker. Miss Finch married and Miss Parslow
left to take up missionary work in Uganda.
Three new health visitors were appointed.
Miss Townsend was given leave of absence for 5 weeks in order
to accept an invitation to see the public health services in Austria.
Miss Lennon was allowed leave of absence on exchange to
America for one year.
Miss Driscall, American Public Health Nurse from Syracuse,
New York State, was accepted in exchange, and joined the staff in
September.
Miss Goodwin obtained the Diploma of the University of
London in Social Studies.
Miss Townsend was appointed Superintendent Health Visitor
on 8th December, 1947, and Miss Lennon was appointed as Deputy
and will take up her appointment when she returns from America.
In the meantime, Miss Sumpner is Acting Deputy Superintendent.
Student Health Visitors of the National Health Society attended
two days weekly for practical training. College of Nursing postgraduate
students visited Tottenham to see Tottenham health
services.
Distinguished Visitors.—A large number of distinguished
visitors and foreign students, and other interested persons came to
Tottenham to see the health services during the year.
WORK OF HEALTH VISITORS
Health Visiting duties were mainly concerned with the general
care of nursing and expectant mothers and children from birth to
5 years of age, including visiting and clinic duties and the visiting
of foster-children and homes of applicants for adoption orders. The
work of health visitors was maintained at its usual high level.
The staff comprised eighteen health visitors. Health visitors maintained
a friendly contact with day nurseries.