| Description | Lecture describing the importance of 'positive health' (an early ideal of the National Health Service, whereby the emphasis is on preventative medicine, as opposed to curative) and the difficulties in providing for it. Acknowledges that schools and media have a role to play, but identifies the health visitor and general practitioner as pivotal, and stresses the importance of good communications and understanding between the two. Describes current difficulties whereby 'the health visitor thinks the general practitioner is a rather poor specimen, neglectful and old-fashioned, and the general practitioner thinks the health visitor is a meddlesome matty causing trouble by giving conflicting advice to his patients' - which have arisen through lack of direct (face-to-face) communication. Gives examples of where closer contact has been beneficial and describes positive changes to the medical curriculum, giving medical students greater involvement in public health.
Describes the important public health work done by school medical services and voluntary welfare services, but their consequent demise following the introduction of the health service. Also, notes a fall in home visits by health workers following the same, and regrets this strongly - 'to my mind by far the most important work of the health visitor is in the home' - and reflects on the G.P.'s increased workload (seeing more people, with less available time to dispense general health advice).
Offers a vision for the future of maternity care in Aberdeen, where the benefits of ante natal and post natal education are stressed and the roles of health visitors, welfare centres and general practitioners are clearly defined. |