View report page

95
Training—During 1965, 10 State Registered Nurses successfully
undertook the District Nursing Certificate, two of whom gained
distinctions. At the end of the year 5 S.R.N.s were still in training.
Refresher Courses—Six District Nursing Sisters attended
refresher courses of one week arranged by the Queen's Institute
of District Nursing.
Integrated Students—Two students from Hammersmith Hospital
worked for 6 weeks under the supervision of a District Nursing
Sister and a further 3 students from the same hospital were taken
for 2 days while undergoing their preliminary training.
Five students from King's College Hospital, again under the
supervision of a District Nursing Sister, spent 5 weeks gaining
district experience. Although these students do not take the District
Nursing Certificate it is obligatory for them to have district nursing
experience.
Observation Visits—Facilities for the purposes of observation
were afforded by the department to the following: —
5 Ward Sisters
3 Health Visitor Students
31 Female Hospital Students
11 Male Hospital Students
District Nursing—Future Plans—District Nursing is not a
static service and its constant expansion and development involves
a high proportion of trained staff. A better understanding of its
functions and greater co-operation from allied services would
undoubtedly lead to its more effective use.
Methods by which the service could be made more effective
have been the subject of investigations during the year and these
have included discussions on attachment of district nursing sisters
to group practices enabling more information about patients to be
gained resulting in more accurate assessments.
It is thought that district nurses working in groups under a
senior district nurse, would not only assist internal administration
but would also enable greater use to be made of ancillaries such as
State Enrolled Nurses, Auxiliary Nurses and bath attendants to the
benefit of the service as a whole.
Use of disposal equipment during the year has helped towards
a more efficient service and the introduction of sterilized dressing
packs would continue this trend. From 1st July these will be obtainable
on an E.C.10 prescription form and it is hoped that the
general practitioner will make full use of the new equipment.
Advantages gained by the nursing services on the introduction
of disposable equipment are being offset by the growing problems
arising from its disposal. Elimination of the coal fires and stoves