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attachments was to a Group Practice. The three Health Visitors on
attachments were based at their own clinics, and visited the general
practitioners' patients, instead of visiting patients in a geographical
area of the Borough. Each Health Visitor ran one Infant Welfare
Centre weekly from the general practitioners' surgeries.
When visiting homes the Health Visitors encouraged mothers to
make use of the Infant Welfare Centres of the Authority, and also to
attend special sessions, such as Toddlers' Clinics and Parent craft
Classes, and especially to keep their appointments for Audiology, explaining
how important it is to assess any hearing loss at a very early
age.
In this Borough, all the local hospitals notify their ante-natal
bookings to the Health Department, which gives the Health Visitors
the opportunity of early visiting of expectant mothers and explaining
the services to them and advising them on any difficulties they may
have. During the year Mothercraft Classes were well attended and
the film ' To Janet a Son' was shown several times in the evening
to expectant mothers and fathers at Church Road Clinic. The film was
followed by discussion and talks. This session was always well attended
and similar ones were planned for another part of the Borough in
the future.
It is the Health Visitor's duty to note at the first visit to a new
baby, whether or not the child is ' at risk'. The children ' at risk'
have special observation, both at home visits and at the time of
attendances at a Clinic or Centre, and are offered regular check-ups
to assess their progress. The number of children who attended Toddlers'
Clinics increased during 1966, and it is hoped to extend this
service in future.

The number of old people visited in their homes by Health
Visitors during the year was 367 compared with 369 in 1965.
It was noted that many of those seen were in urgent need of practical
help as well as friendly visiting, and these Health Visitors' visits were
very valuable for assesment purposes. It is with this age group, above
all, that good co-operation between Health Visitor, General Practi,
doner, District Nurse, Home Help and other statutory and voluntary
departments is essential to ensure that the very best service is available
for the patients' welfare.
The Geriatric Health Visitor works both in Merton and in Sutton.
Her duties are mainly in connection with patients who have been in
the Geriatric Unit at St. Helier Hospital, and with the patients who
attend the Day Centre attached to that hospital. She does, however,
pay any special geriatric visit that she is asked to do, and also visits
some of die widows or widowers of patients who have died in St.
Helier Hospital. Her case-load in Merton during the year was 160.
The details of work carried out by Tuberculosis Health Visitors
and the Tuberculosis Visitor are shown under the heading ' Tuberculosis'
on page 21.
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