London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Merton 1966
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Merton]
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Training of Health Visitors
Health Visitors in the Borough took many students for training
or for observation purposes during the year. Some of these were
Health Visitor Students attached for fieldwork from various centrtes of
training but others were staff from nursing and allied services.
'In-Service' training of Health Visitors was continued during
the year. Three Health Visitors had post-graduate refresher courses,
three undertook training as Fieldwork Instructors, and three attended
week-end courses in Psychoprophylaxis to enable them to take classes
for ante-natal mothers on ' Preparation for Childbirth '.
In addition Health Visitors attended several one-day or half-day
conferences on subjects of special interest.
The following table shows the number of cases in the various categories visited by the Health Visitors in 1966:—
| Category. | Number of cases visited. |
|---|---|
| Children born in 1966 | 3,175 |
| Children born in 1965 | 3,185 |
| Children born in 1961/4 | 8,868 |
| Total, 1961-1966 | 15,228 |
| Persons aged 65 and over | 367 |
| Mentally disordered persons | 276 |
| Total | 15,871 |
| No. of attendances at Welfare Centre Sessions | 2,100 |
| No. of attendances at Ante-natal and Post-natal clinic sessions | 333 |
Health Education
This essential aspect of the Health Services was continued by
Health Visitors during the year, principally by means of teaching
groups which the Health Visitors hold in schools, talks which are
given to outside organisations, and the use of leaflets, posters and
displays in clinics and other public buildings.
In addition to Mothercraft Classes for ante-natal mothers, there
were Parentcraft Classes for mothers and their children. This is a
worthwhile service as there are many lonely young mothers in the
Borough and it helps them to meet other mothers and children since
many organisations do not welcome noisy children and the mothers
are too shy to go. Parentcraft also helps the ' only children' and
those who spend most of their days in flats. Health Visitors were often
asked to speak or join in discussion groups with outside organisations.
MIDWIFERY
Staff
At 31st December, 1966, the staff consisted of:—
1 Non-medical Supervisor of Midwives.
10 Whole-time District Midwives.
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