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HEALTH VISITING SERVICE
(Sections 24 and 28)
Health Visiting
A disturbing feature of the health visiting service has been the difficulty
experienced in filling existing staff vacancies. This appears to be an experience of
many local authorities and not merely a local problem. The establishment of health
visitors at the end of the year was the lowest that it has been for a number of years.
Inevitably the health visitors have far larger districts than can be adequately
covered. Routine visiting with its wide aspects of preventive ill-health is therefore
seriously undermined.
The follow-up of the newly born after their discharge from hospital with their
mothers cannot be omitted. Experience has shown that the first and subsequent visits in the
early weeks of life of the baby is regarded as essential in nearly every case. The
rising birth rate naturally brings a higher proportion of this type of visiting.
Another factor which brings many problems is the constantly shifting population
especially among the immigrants. These people are anxious to make use of the social
services, but for a variety of reasons they do not acquire of permanent or stable homes
They do not stay long enough in any locality to gain sufficient supportive guidance
which is often necessary. They move on, and another family with its attendant
problems moves in. This means much of the health visitor's work does not produce the
maximum result she achieves under more stable circumstances.
For the past few years, one health visitor has been allocated to attend a local
group medical practice twice weekly. It was regretted that, because of shortage of
staff, attendance had to be reduced to once weekly at the latter part of the year. As
soon as the staff position is improved, it is anticipated the previous arrangements
will be reinstated.