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Changes other than those already mentioned, in health visiting
staff were considerable. Three members retired; the teaching profession
claimed three; two had babies and one moved away from the
area. Two of three students sponsored for training in 1968 successfully
completed their course and joined the staff in October, 1969.
In addition to these two newly trained health visitors, it was possible
to recruit only a further three staff to replace the losses already mentioned.
The shortage of trained nurses throughout the country is
well-known and this effect is now being felt in the community. This
makes it doubly important to ensure that trained staff are used only
for the purpose for which they have been trained, and not for duties,
not requiring their specialised skills, which may be carried out by
ancillary staff.
General Practitioner Attachments
In December 1969, 11 Health Visitors were attached to 37
general practitioners. This close liaison between groups of general
practitioners and health visitors employed by the local authority, gives
a more personal and complete service to the community. General
practitioners readily admit the advantages to the practice of these
highly trained nurses. The Health Visitor fully undertakes her role as
a family visitor, detecting and alerting the general practitioner and
other social agencies, to deviations from the normal in social, emotional
and physical developments within all members of the family.
As more general practitioners form working groups, the requests
for the attachment of nursing staff will increase. It has already been
demonstrated that the demands on attached staff by general practitioners
and the community has increased; it is therefore essential to
ensure that sufficient staff are maintained to meet these demands.
Training of Health Visitors
Four Health Visitor Students were sponsored for training in 1969.
Two are undertaking their courses at the University of Surrey; one
at Chiswick College and one at The Borough Polytechnic. If successful
they will join the staff in October, 1970.
Post-Graduate Training
One Health Visitor completed her Fieldwork Instructor's Course
during the year, bringing the number of staff qualified to train students
to five. Suitable staff who wish to do this work must have been qualified
for a minimum period of two years. The mobility of staff makes
it essential that the number of staff trained as field work instructors is
maintained at a reasonable level.
Five Health Visitors attended post-graduate refresher courses
and four attended a weekend course in psychoprophylaxis to enable
them to take classes for ante-natal mothers in Preparation for Childbirth.
One Health Visitor who re-joined the staff after a period of
time abroad, attended a health visitor re-entry course.
Screening an infant for possible deafness is a specialised procedure
carried out by Health Visitors on all infants at the age of seven
months. Thirteen staff were given in-service training in this throughout
the year.
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