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36
As will be seen from the statistics following, the
work in 1931 has been very strenuous. Doctors,
Health Visitors and Maternity and Child Welfare
clerks have all been working at high pressure. Much
of the success of the work of both Doctors and Health
Visitors depends upon the efficient and friendly cooperation
of the clerical staff, and this we have in full
measure in Fulham.
No locum tenens is provided for the work of the
Health Visitors during holiday periods, so that the
services of one Health Visitor are not available for a
period of approximately six months in every year.
The question of arranging for a proper staff for the
carrying on of the clinics and home visiting is therefore
often difficult. We have only the minimum staff
possible at each of the centres for ordinary purposes,
and we have to depend upon the regular help of our
voluntary workers. We are singularly fortunate in
the services they so faithfully render, and we offer our
most grateful thanks and appreciation to Miss C.
Wickham, Mrs. Bell, Mrs. Tait, Mrs. Falcon, Miss
Keenlyside, Miss Dolman, Mrs. Hollingbury and members
of the Fulham Branch of the British Red Cross
Society, who have all been such good friends to us
during the past year.
During certain of the holiday periods of 1931, we
managed at the clinics with one Health Visitor only,
with the help of a voluntary worker. In this way, the
other Health Visitors on duty were able to devote more
time to visiting in the homes. I feel that the benefit
of this arrangement has been felt amongst the mothers,
although, of course, it made it more difficult for
everyone at the clinics.
I have often expressed the opinion that a Health
Visitor can do a great deal to make or mar the work
of an Infant Welfare Medical Officer, as she acts as a
liason officer between the home and the doctor. I
should like to place on record my deep appreciation of
the unselfish and devoted work carried on by the
Council's Health Visiting staff. These services are
very frequently cordially and voluntarily given during
unofficial hours.