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62
HEALTH VISITING SERVICE
(Section 24)
The follow-up of the newly born after their discharge from hospital with their mothers on the
tenth day of puerperium or earlier is still a very important part of the work of the health visitor.
Additionally, also, the health visitor now follows up those mothers confined at home earlier than
formerly (i.e. on the eleventh day instead of the fifteenth).
It is commonly found that this visit is very much welcomed and appreciated and in many
cases is the basis on which the relationship between health visitor and mother and baby is formed.
The health of mother and baby is very much in the balance at this stage and often causes the
health visitor to make a number of visits to give the mother the advice and support she needs to
ensure the well-being of herself and the child during the first year. The value of this type of
home visiting cannot be over-estimated and where it does not exist the work of the midwife may
well be wasted.
Much has been said about selective visiting of one kind and another according to the need
of the family. It has been our experience, however, that so much hangs on the first and subsequent
visits in the early life of the child that this type of visiting cannot be omitted and is regarded as
being essential in nearly every case.
Toddlers clinics to some extent have helped to reduce the number of visits paid to children
in the two to five age group. The number of toddlers visited because they are placed for daily
minding has increased This is partly because there are more women offering themselves for
daily minding to meet a known demand and also to see children placed with them for daily
minding. Some women also have been reported as minding more than two children without being
registered. Special visits have been made, therefore, to acquaint them of their legal responsibilities
in this matter Some of the latter have not wished to be known to the local authority as
they were unlikely to be registered. Attendances at Toddlers clinics have also increased and
these clinics prove to be popular with children and with parents The idea of periodic overhaul
for health appears to have appealed to most parents of children in this age group.
Campaigns and Research Surveys
Health visitors have been engaged in some special activities during the year to assist with
surveys such as "The National Survey on the Health and Development of Children" promoted by
the Population Investigation Committee Institute of Child Health, University of London and the
Colour Blindness in Girls Ovarian Agenesis Survey promoted by the Department of Health, Guy's
Hospital. The vision of girls in the intermediate age group has been tested by the Ishihara
Method by health visitors and school nurses as part of the preparation for routine medical
inspection. Material obtained from this Survey has been passed to the County Council for
forwarding. Phenylketonuria Survey of all live births - this has involved the testing of urine of
each new baby unless the tests have been completed elsewhere. Two suspected cases were
found but on further investigations proved to be negative. The procedure connected with the
survey of newly born infants and phenylketonuria still continues as a routine test. Parents have
proved to be interested and co-operative.