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HEALTH VISITING
Staff
As at 31st December, 1970, the staff position was: —
1 Superintendent Health Visitor.
3 Group Adviser Health Visitors.
27 Full-time health visitors.
3 Part-time health visitors.
1 Full-time geriatric health visitor.
1 Full-time Tuberculosis health visitor.
1 Part-time Tuberculosis visitor.
4 Health visitor students.
Five members of the staff left during the year, two because of
marriage, two due to pregnancy, and one to take up a university post.
The four student health visitors sponsored by the Borough in
1969 were successful in their examinations and joined the staff as
health visitors in October, together with another recently-qualified
health visitor who had completed the integrated training.
With the growing attachment of staff to general practitioners, it
is becoming obvious that with the increased work which the attachments
generate, plus the increased travelling time, combined with
maintaining the other services provided by the local authority, the
point will shortly be reached when additional staff will be a necessity
to meet the developing need.
General Practitioner Attachments
In December, 1970, 14 health visitors were working in attachment
schemes with 42 general practitioners. Requests have been received
from other general practitioners for staff to work with them,
and arrangements are proceeding. There are a large number of general
practitioners serving the population of the Borough. Some of them
have surgeries outside the Borough and have only a few patients
resident in Merton. Many practices cover a large geographical area;
some general practitioners work alone. These factors present difficulties
when attaching staff, and great care is required to ensure that,
whilst wishing to accommodate the general practitioners, the remaining
service needs of the Borough are maintained.
Training of Health Visitors
Four health visitor students were sponsored for training in 1970.
Two are undertaking their courses at Ewell Technical College, one at
Croydon Technical College, and one at Chiswick Polytechnic. If successful,
they will join the health visiting staff in October, 1971. Eight
health visitor students received their practical training in the Borough
during the year, and the four students sponsored by Merton returned
in June for their periods of supervised practice.
Two health visitors completed their Field Work Instructor's
Courses during the year, bringing the number of staff qualified to
undertake the practical training of health visitor students to seven.
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