View report page

27
Since 1965, whilst the overall tendency has been a steady decrease in the numbers of
patients nursed this has resulted from a decrease only in certain groups. The numbers of new
surgical cases and those suffering from mental ill health undertaken each year have remained
at about the same level, while all other types have decreased. With regard to age distribution,
the trend appears only for patients under 65; the numbers of those over 65 varied from year
to year, but never more than 10% either up or down.
The numbers of long-term patients, i.e., those attended for at least three months,
have fallen and, this year, are the lowest since 1965. On the other hand the average number
of visits per patient is the highest over the same period.
Included in the visits made are a number in which patients attend evening clinic
sessions held in the Association's premises; these sessions are almost entirely devoted to
injection treatments.
Little Sisters of the Assumption
A grant of £100 was made to the Little Sisters of the Assumption in respect of the
domiciliary nursing service provided by the Order.
Co-operation with Hospitals
This co-operation takes three forms:—
(i) Participation in training in the Schools of Nursing.
(ii) Liaison with hospital departments, and
(iii) Study days.
(i) Within the Schools of Nursing health visitors continued to teach at both
St. Charles and St. Stephen's hospitals. Following the amalgamation of the training
schools of St. Mary Abbots and St. Stephen's Hospitals, all nurses in training in this
borough received talks from the community nursing staff and made visits of
observation to the local authority services. The 1969 General Nursing Council
syllabus extends the type and range of experience in general nurse training; as a
result students may choose to undertake periods of study and observation in
psychiatric, geriatric, community or obstetric care. Programmes for the first students
undertaking a period of six weeks within the community nursing services are being
planned to take place early in 1972.
(ii) Closer liaison has continued to develop with the hospital services, and
community nursing staff are working with the following hospital departments:
St. Charles Hospital — Paediatric Department
St. Mary's, Paddington — Maternity Department (a) Post natal teaching
St. Mary's, Harrow Road — Maternity Department (a) Post natal teaching
(b) Maternity liaison
St. Stephen's Hospital — Maternity Department (a) Post natal teaching
(b) Maternity liaison
St. Lukes Hospital — Geriatric Services
Preparations were made for increased liaison with the re-opened Princess Beatrice
Hospital and for liaison with the Princess Louise Hospital upon its redesignation as a
geriatric hospital. The liaison between health visitors and the psychiatrist from the Earls
Court child guidance unit (I.L.E.A.) continued to be generally beneficial.
(iii) A further study day was held during the year for staff of the Chelsea and
Kensington group of hospitals and the community nursing staff.