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Charing Cross Fulham Hospital; and arrangements were made for the Sisters
of the Geriatric Department to visit with the District Nursing Sisters.
Three Student Nurses from Hammersmith Hospital work with the District
Nursing Sisters for three days in each week. Six medical students attend
for visits of observation from the Middlesex Hospital.
Arrangements have been made for State-Enrolled Nurses to receive post-
basic training in district nursing and they, together with the Home Bathers
now redesignated "Nursing Aides," have greatly assisted in meeting the
needs of the elderly and infirm patients.
It is proposed to extend the existing "Home Nursing Service" by the
introduction of a late night and early morning service for those patients
requiring additional care.
A total of 3,600 patients were visited at home during the year, of whom
2,457 were aged 65 or over.
Home Help Service (National Health Service Act 1946, Section 29, as amended
by the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968)
Section 13 of the 1968 Act imposes on Local Health Authorities a duty
to provide, or arrange to provide, a Home Help Service adequate for the
needs of their area. It replaces the existing permissive power to provide
this service in Section 29 of the National Health Service Act 1946. The
Section specifically includes persons handicapped by past injury or congenital
deformity amongst those who may qualify for assistance from the Home
Help Service. In addition, the Section confers on Local Health Authorities
a new general power to provide, or arrange for the provision of, laundry
facilities for households where home help is being, or may be provided.
In the light of the previous economic situation it was decided to defer
the bringing of this Section into force; during the period of deferment
Section 29 of the 1946 Act remains in force. Authorities will be notified
of the date of implementation of this Section in due course,
The demands upon this Service, without which many of the other Nursing
and Welfare Services would be unable to provide a supportive service, continue
to increase. There is still difficulty in recruiting applicants whose
home commitments make it possible for their services to be available in
the early morning and evening. The difficult circumstances in which some of
the Home Helps have to work make recruitment problematical specially in an
area where more congenial employment is freely available.
During the year, 2,717 (2,761) persons were provided with domestic
help.
Vaccination and Immunisation (National Health Service Act 1946, Section 26)
The following tables show details of the numbers of persons protected
against Diphtheria, Tetanus, Whooping Cough, Smallpox, Poliomyelitis and
Measles during 1970.
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