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HOME NURSING SERVICE
On 1 April 1965 the service was provided by the Metropolitan, Hampstead and Kilburn and
West Hampstead District Nursing Associations on an agency basis. On 1 October 1965 the Council
assumed direct responsibility for the service but the day-to-day administration was continued by
the superintendents of the associations until the end of the year.
The staffing/population ratio was 1:6.150, excluding superintendents.
The service was administered from three district homes but in recent years almost all
staff other than superintendents were non-resident. The supervisory structure was heavy -1:5
nurses. No male nurses were employed.

A review of the work showed that there was scope for the deployment of more state enrolled
nurses and bathing attendants in the service. The future staffing was given careful consideration.
2,879 patients were nursed during the year, 66 per cent. of whom were aged 65 years and
over. Nevertheless there were surprising differences in the use made of the service by general
practitioners. In one area of the Borough in three months 71 doctors had asked for the services of
the district nurse for their patients, but of these only 4 had called in the nurses for 10 or more
patients. Nine doctors used the service for 5 or more patients. The remaining 58 doctors had called
in the service only once or twice. A full list of all doctors practising in this area was not available
at the time, and it is not known how many general practitioners did not call in the service at all.
Since it can be assumed that all general practitioners have a proportion of over-65s on their lists,
the disparity in the use of the service requires further investigation.
LOAN OF EQUIPMENT TO PATIENTS BEING NURSED AT HOME
The loan of equipment by local health authorities to patients who are being nursed at
home is made under Section 28 of the National Health Service Act, 1946. Articles can be supplied
on loan without charge not only to patients who are under the care of home nurses, but also to
those nursed at home by relatives and under the direction of their general practitioners.
The general principle followed as between the services is that it is the responsibility
of :-
The Local Health Authority to supply articles (excluding those which can be prescribed
by general practitioners on form EC 10) which are necessary to ensure efficient nursing
(this includes sick room furniture such as commodes, mattresses and hoists);
Hospitals to supply to patients under hospital care, items required for treatment (splints,
crutches, etc.) and to make arrangements with the Ministry of Health for items such as
wheelchairs and invalid carriages;
The Welfare Authority to supply equipment and fixtures (under the National Assistance
Act, 1948) to handicapped persons in their own homes to enable them to lead fuller and
more comfortable lives.
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