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107
Long-term Cases
Patients Nursed for 3 months or more 162
(equivalent to 3% of all cases nursed)

Age Distribution of Patients
Age Group No. of Patients %
0 to 4 years 78 1.5
5 to 64 years 2,557 47.4
65 years and over 2,757 51.1
Total 5,392 100.0
District Nurses—Full-time equivalent 55.5
(including Reliefs and Students)
During 1969, the number of areas was increased to 44 and the
average case-load for the 13 staff working with general practitioners
was 40/48 and 26/36 for the remaining 31 areas. Visits averaged
3.900 per District Nurse which is high.
From the home nursing point of view, November and December
were very heavy months. However, despite the influenza epidemic
and substantial staff sickness our nurses, as always, responded to
the emergency and, on occasions, managed 20/24 visits daily.
Prolongation of such a situation inevitably leads to maximum
visits with a minimum standard of care which even the staff find
most unsatisfactory. It is not to be commended other than in
exceptional circumstances.
Recruitment
Anticipated improvement did not materialise and, although
assistance was obtained from the School and Clinic Nursing Staff,
for several months it was necessary to employ nurses from a private
agency.