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59
Health Education
The health visitor's advice is now generally known as being part of the health
education programme. It can be given individually in the home or elsewhere on any
matters relating to health including the passing on of information connected with
changes in prophylactic measures such as immunisation and mental health. Industrial
and commercial concerns are very much aware of this function of the health visitor and
seek to engage her interest and recommendation for their various commodities.
The total number of attendances madebyhealth visitors at clinic sessions provided
by the local health authority during the year was 4,550.
Group Medical Practice Centre
The record of attendances mentioned above does not include those at a local centre
for group medical practice. Miss Marriott, the health visitor concerned, is present
on two sessions each week, to give advice to those who need it. One of these is an
infant welfare session. At the other there are some mothers attending for ante-natal
care and a mixture of all other age groups as at a doctor's ordinary surgery. The
health visitor makes known the voluntary and statutory services and puts them into
motion as required. She also undertakes home visiting for certain cases and refers
the others to her colleagues covering districts on which the patients' homes are
situated.
Health education in welfare centres throughout the Area continues all the time.
Parents are quick to recognise that the health of their offspring is more important
than anything else. At all the infant welfare sessions a health visitor is present
to discuss the child's progress, to give advice on general care, behaviour and feeding
and to refer for further advice where this seems to be adviseable.
Group Teaching
Parentcraft and Relaxation Classes are held in the majority of welfare centres
and are attended mainly by expectant mothers. A health visitor is present to be in
charge of relaxation instruction and to promote discussion on a variety of subjects
dealing with pregnancy, confinement and various matters connected with the upbringing
of children. Midwives also attend certain of these sessions as part of the team and
'specialise in subjects such as the preparation for confinement and the use of analgesia
labour. There appear to be more mothers referred to these classes by family
doctors than formerly.
Health Education in Schools and School Clinics
Health visitors in this Area are appointed as health visitors/school nurses. In
this dual capacity trained health supervision is given to children from birth to school
leaving age. Mich of the school nurse's work is, however, undertaken by clinic nurses
as auxiliaries to the health visitor. Attendance at specialist and minor ailment
clinics, following up defaulters from school clinics, routine medical inspections and
hygiene inspections in schools is part of the work of the school nurse. A'full time
school nurse, Mrs. Hurrell, is also provided for the School for the Physically
Handicapped.