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DISTRICT NURSING
Dorothy M. Coe, S.R.N., R.F.N., S.C.M., H.V., C. & G.
Technical Teachers' Certificate, Diploma in Social Sciences
{Chief Nursing Officer)
A reorganisation of the District Nursing Service took place on 11th May, 1970,
prior to which date each nurse was responsible for all district nurse cases within a
geographically defined district. The object of this change was to minimise the number
of district nurses and general practitioners with which each had to work, thus helping
to bring about a closer co-operation, to their benefit and that of the patients.
It was hoped that nurses would be able to save travelling time by doing more of
their work at the surgeries. Insufficient space at many surgeries has made it necessary
for treatment sessions to be held prior to evening surgery. Of the 46 district nurses,
26 now work within surgeries where, for the year, a total of 1,450 injections and
2,505 other treatments were carried out.
The amount of work has increased, partially due to the new method of working.
This expansion has occurred mainly in the age group 65 years and over. Home visits
increased by 5,695 to a total 181,038. Of 3,910 patients referred for treatment,
1,656 were still being treated on 31st December.
Over the past three years the number of visits to patients has increased by 26,869.
This demonstrates a change in the type of patient being cared for, there being a
greater number of high dependency patients being nursed in their own homes.
Bathing of the Elderly and Infirm
This service, which is carried out by two men and ten women, is supervised by the
district nurses so that immediate assistance may be given to any patient requiring
nursing care. Staff shortage at the bathing centres created additional work for the
home bathing service following the transfer of some patients who would normally
have been transported to the centres. This prevented achieving the aim of the service
to bathe patients weekly, but resulted in the total baths being 20,586, an increase
of 10,000 over the previous year.
Geriatric Liaison Scheme
The scheme, which is in its second year at Hither Green Hospital, now has two
district nurses, one full-time and another part-time, working in the Geriatric Unit
and Day Hospital. The visiting of patients, prior to admission, by the geriatrician
and liaison sister allows for a degree of assessment. An average of seven visits are
made weekly. In addition, 10 visits are made by the liaison sister to patients who
have left the unit, to assess progress or regression.
An average of 20 hours weekly are spent in the hospital on liaison duties, which
include answering the requests of district nurses for information and arranging
for their visits to patients discharged from the unit or for patients to attend the
day hospital.
District Nurses Employed
Establishment (full-time equivalents) 70
State registered nurses—female 46
State registered nurses—male 10
State enrolled nurses—females 14
Twelve members of staff left during the year. There was no shortage of applicants,
but the inability of candidates to find suitable accommodation within the area delayed
the filling of these vacancies.
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