Report of the Director-General of Public Health, New South Wales.
- New South Wales. Department of Public Health
- Date:
- [1968]
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Report of the Director-General of Public Health, New South Wales. Source: Wellcome Collection.
141/200 page 139
![MATERNAL AND INFANT CARE There has been an increase in the amount of time spent on home visiting and circuits have been adjusted in some instances to include visits to Aboriginal stations. This increase in home visiting has been made possible by Sisters being allowed to use their own cars and the provision of departmental cars where possible. All Aboriginal stations and reserves in the district are now visited by a Baby Health Centre Sister. A pool of local Sisters available to relieve during holidays and sickness has been formed and it is now possible to provide relief for most circuits in the district. Table 7—Baby Health Centre Statistics, 1968 Total attendances .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 30 269 Under 1 year .. .. .. .. .. .. .. \ [ '' ' ’ 24^504 Over 1 year and under 2 years. . ’ ’ ’ ” ] 2^655 Over 2 years .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ’' ’’ , [[ 3,110 Total babies attending for first time. .. .2,181 Under 1 year .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ,, ., ,, .. 2,041 Aborigines .. .. .. ,. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ’58 Migrants .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ,. .. 38 Home Visiting— Total time spent home visiting. 724i hours Number of first visits .. .. .. .. .. .. ' .. .. .. 441 Number of subsequent visits .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 496 Mothers seen in Hospital .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,206 Number of individual attendances .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4,760 Number of days Baby Health Centres closed— Public and local holidays, sickness and Baby Health Centre Sisters’ Conference .. 94 days PRIVATE HOSPITALS The Glyndon Private Hospital at Grafton closed, and the number of rest home beds has been increased to 101 with the opening of “Holroyd” House at Coffs Harbour. Extensions to the “Maranoa” Rest Home in Lismore are under construction, and a new geriatric wing at St Vincents Hospital, Lismore, will commence in 1969. Sixteen routine inspections of rest homes were made. Advice has been given to a number of people proposing to build rest homes in the district. MENTALLY HANDICAPPED The Regional Advisory Committee for the Intellectually Handicapped of which the Medical Officer of Health is a member, visited various schools and sheltered workshops and held discussions with local sub-normal children associations. Specific problems of individual cases are now being referred to this Department and School Medical Officers and Speech Therapist have visited various special schools to carry out assessments. It is intended during 1969, for more mentally handicapped children to be medically assessed and an up-to-date register kept. HEALTH EDUCATION A team from the Division of Health Education visited Lismore and discussed health education activities and techniques with members of the staff. The need for a health education officer in the district was considered and more effective and economical distribution of pamphlets and books was discussed. Health education activities have included press, radio, and television releases, weekly broadcasts on child health, lectures at regional training schools for nurses and talks to various groups and schools. Health exhibits have been organized at north coast trade fairs; and shows in conjunction with local authorities, and health education equipment has been lent to other government departments, local authorities, and associations who have assisted in health education programmes. During health week a series of daily radio talks were given by various officers. VISITORS Visitors to the district during the year included the Director General; the Director of the Bureau of Maternal and Child Health; the Assistant Director, Section of Child Health; the Chief Health Inspector; the Chief Food Inspector; the Senior Speech Therapist; and officers from the Division of Health’Education, Occupational Health, Government Analyst Branch and the Surveyors Branch.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b31485595_0141.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
