London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Islington 1970
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington Borough]
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At the moment this is a one-way exchange, but it is intended in due course that the home nursing staff
will spend a day in the hospital.
Five pupil nurses from St. Matthews and one S.E.N. on our staff completed successfully the course for
District Nursing.
We had an intake of seven District Nurses who took the District Nurse Training, and gained the National
Certificate.
Miss Payne retired this year after 30 years as a District Nurse, having started as the nurse for the
Marquess of Northampton's Estate, in the old Borough of Finsbury. She was very conscientious and willing,
and will be greatly missed by old and young alike who loved and had great respect for her, both as a nurse
and a person. She still resides in the district however, so contact with her is not lost altogether.
We employed another part-time evening nurse, and now have three nurses working from
6.30 p.m. - 11 p.m., increasing the service we can give to ill patients.
The nursing staff have worked well, taking in their stride the extra burden of sick colleagues' work during
the second half of the year.
There are many new projects being discussed for 1971 in which the District Nursing staff will be involved. The changes which the projects will bring about are designed to improve further the service to the patient.
| 1969 | |
|---|---|
| Patients being nursed at (a) 1.1.70 | 709 (649) |
| (b) 31.12.70 | 819 (709) |
| Total nursed | 3,041 (2,380) |
| Total visits | 98,544 (93,870) |
| Visits to persons over 65 | 82,468 (74,310) |
| Proportion of visits to persons | |
| aged over 65 | 83.8% (79.2%) |
| Nursing treatments completed | 1,610 (1,671) |
| Nursing treatments commenced | 1,724 (1,731) |
LOAN OF EQUIPMENT
The scheme for the loan of equipment, free of charge to persons being nursed (irrespective of whether by district nurse, relative or friend) in their own home continued during the year. The items loaned included the following: (P.88)
| Equipment | 1969 | No. on loan (31.12.70) |
|---|---|---|
| Air and sorbo rings | 110 (48) | 122 |
| Bed cradles | 86 (53) | 78 |
| Bed and back rests | 116 (74) | 110 |
| Bed pans | 72 (37) | 105 |
| Commodes | 323 (214) | 426 |
| Hoists | 6 (2) | 13 |
| Dunlopillo mattresses | 10 (6) | 21 |
| Fracture boards | 27 (14) | 60 |
| Mackintosh sheets | 0 (0) | 0 |
| Hospital beds | 12 (15) | 16 |
| Urinals | 0 (0) | 0 |
| Walking aids | 99 (44) | 109 |
| Wheel chairs and other special chairs | 108 (80) | 142 |