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To foster interest and improve the service offered by the bathing attendants a
short course of instruction of one day a week for four weeks was organised. The six
members of the staff attended and they were instructed in hygiene, methods of nursing
care, the technique of lifting and diabetes. A comprehensive picture of the services
of the local authority were also given, All appreciated the course and felt better
prepared for the task they were undertaking.
Refresher Courses
Six district nursing sisters attended refresher courses organised by the Queen's
Institute of District Nursing.
Two senior district nursing sisters attended a special Practical Workers Instructors
course.
Integrated Courses
Integrated nursing training arranged by King's College hospital trains nursing students
for the State Register, the Health Visitors Certificate and a ten weeks course of
district nursing. This latter course does not at present include a District Nursing
certificate but the students can sit for the District Nursing examination after a further
period of training following the completion of their contract with King's College
Hospital.
Three students spent 3 weeks gaining district experience in their second year and
a further three students spent two weeks with the district nurses in their first year of
integrated training.
Observation Visits
During the year 82 persons visited the patients in their own homes with the district
nurses. They were:—
53 Pupil Midwives
13 Hospital Student Nurses
11 Medical Students
4 Occupational Therapy Students
1 Warden
Special Lectures
District nurses attended conferences and lectures of special interest to their work;
these included "Diets for the Elderly", "Crime Prevention and the Elderly" and
"Resuscitation and External Heart Massage". One district nursing sister attended
the two-day Conference of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.
Drugs and Their Effects
This was the subject of a special lecture requested by the district nursing staff as
many of the drugs in current usage were new to them. They asked for an opportunity
to discuss some of the apparent side effects of these preparations. Dr. J. S. Staffurth,
m.d., f.r.c.p., Clinical Tutor at Lewisham Hospital gave an excellent lecture which
provoked many questions and brought everyone up to date.
Home Bathing Attendants
This service was started in Lewisham in December 1962 with the employment of
a woman to help with domiciliary bathing and cleansing to work primarily under
the direction and supervision of the district nurses. During this first year the number
of cleansings and bathings carried out was 1,286. It became clear that the demand
for such help was very great, and during the past five years the service has continually
expanded to the extent that during 1968, some 10,571 cleansings and bathings were
carried out by the six bathing attendants employed
In addition some 1,272 home bathings were carried out by staff of the cleansing
stations.
It is envisaged that during 1969 the home bathing service provided by the staff
of the cleansing stations and the home bathing attendants will be integrated under
the Nursing Officer (Midwifery and District Nursing).
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