[Report 1954] / Medical Officer of Health, Oxfordshire County Council.

  • Oxfordshire (England). County Council. n 81006935.
Date:
1954
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1954] / Medical Officer of Health, Oxfordshire County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Many of the young women who need help are often without friends. They seem pleased to know someone with whom they can discuss their problems. Sometimes their parents will not listen or they do not feel able to talk things over with their relatives or friends and they are glad to have someone in whom they can confide. We try to give individual friendship and the kind of advice which seems most suitable. The work cannot be successful unless there is co-operation between the worker and those needing help. Inquiries were made on cases for other workers’, these are not included in this report. Our very grateful thanks are again extended to the County Health Department, for their ready co-operation and help at all times. MARGARET J. CHAUNDY. Health Visiting There is an establishment of 32 Health Visitor/School Nurses in addition to the Superintendent of Health Visitors. There was one vacancy on 31st December, 1954 which has since been filled. The national scarcity of Health Visitors does not affect Oxfordshire where there is in fact a waiting list of Health Visitors. Visits paid by Health Visitors 1952 1953 1954 Ante-natal. 1,058 831 1,057 Under 1 year 27,325 24,354 27,241 1- 2 years ... 2- 5 years ... 33,227 34,434 13,452 19,080 Hospital After-Care 601 882 1,147 Infectious Diseases 528 1,412 439 Tuberculosis 4,539 3,979 3,861 Old Persons 3,531 4,176 6,529 Home Helps 5,858 5,947 6,538 Miscellaneous 10,510 8,723 9,854 The continuing expansion both in variety and volume of work is shown in the number of visits to old persons and in connection with care and after-care of persons discharged from hospital. Liaison Between Midwifery Service and Hospital Maternity Service Close liaison exists between the Superintendent Health Visitor and the administration and ward staffs of the various hospitals in the region; both with regard to the discharge of new-born babies and the discharge of other cases for whom reports on social conditions are required at admission or dis¬ charge by the hospital authorities. More use could be made of the Health Visitors by hospitals for this type of service. Liaison with the Chest Physician and the Chest Clinic A specially designated Health Visitor attends a regular weekly conference at the Churchill and Reading Chest Clinics and is responsible for the visiting and contact tracing work in connection with tuberculous cases. Training Facilities The Health Visitors’ Training School continues to have more applicants than it can accommodate. In the 1953/54 session 32 students took the course, one of these being a Turkist student who did not intend to take the examination. As one student was ill, 30 students sat the examination and 25 passed at the first attempt and all but one who failed at the first attempt were successful at the second attempt. Health Education There is no programme of formal health education. The main point of contact is the health visitor in the course of her home visiting and clinic duties. Leaflets and posters continue to be used at clinics and meetings. Talks and filmstrip demonstrations have been given throughout the year by various members of the Health Department, several new filmstrips having been acquired. During the vacation of the Health Visitors’ Training School the Tutor devotes the major part of her time to health education in outlying clinics. She has some mobile exhibits which illustrate her teaching of child health and training. Members of the Health Department staff are invited to address meetings of organizations throughout the County. The opportunity is then taken to impart further knowledge on health matters.