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18
The general care of the elderly, either living within the family circle or alone, is making increasing
demands on the health visitor's time. This is a sphere in which they are working closely in co-operation
with general practitioners and other members of the health team.
Circular No. 26/59 of the Ministry of Health states:—
"The health visitors' work should be broadly based and should extend to the whole family."
Health Education
Talks have been given in clinics and schools. Poster displays have been set up in clinics to illustrate
current topical points of health education, and suitable films have been shown to a variety of audiences.
Sponsored students
Three sponsored student health visitors commenced the course at Chiswick Polytechnic in September.
Health visitors assist in their practical training, and also with student nurses and other students who
come to see the work in the public health field.
In-service training
Three health visitors attended the two-day course in screening tests of the hearing of children.
One health visitor undertook the part-time training course in teaching techniques, organised by the
Health Visitors Association.
One health visitor is continuing to attend the second year of the course on "Human Relations";
attendance is at weekly sessions over the year.
A series of classes of instruction in the teaching of relaxation were held at one of the local clinics,
and several health visitors attended. These classes were found to be both stimulating and instructive.
Refresher Courses
Three health visitors attended different courses on various aspects of their work.
There have also been various lectures over the year for all social workers, at which health 1 isitc s
have been fortunate enough to attend.
HOME NURSING (Tables 53 and 54)
The Area Health Office is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Home Nursing
Service in Willesden.
The nurses are non-resident and the local medical practitioners and hospitals receive, from time to
time, an up-to-date list of their names, addresses and telephone numbers, so that direct contact with the nurses
can be made.
Home nurses carry out treatment such as the general care of the acute and chronic sick, blanket
baths and injections for patients including children under five years of age and the aged and infirm. They
also help to train handicapped and disabled patients to get up and about again and they advise relatives on
the care of the aged in their families.
Home nurses make visits to their patients by arrangement with the family doctors. Some patients
are visited morning and evening, some once a day and others less frequently.

Total number of visits paid 90,325
The "Pilot Scheme" of a home nurse attached to a group of four general practitioners, which was
started in 1962, has continued to work well, to the satisfaction of the doctors and the home nurse concerned.
Pilot Scheme cases:
Number of cases brought forward 26
Number of new cases 78
Total: 104
Total number of visits paid 4,022
The Marie Curie Memorial Foundation has provided facilities whereby a nurse may be provided to
assist with the care of terminal cases of carcinoma, enabling the relatives who are caring for these patients
to have some rest; this greatly supplements the care which is given by the home nurse. One person has been
employed in this capacity since 16.9.63, and she has attended 7 cases.
The district nurse training course for state registered nurses has continued with a further 3 courses.
Two home nurses attended these courses and were successful in obtaining the National Certificate.