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with the object of returning patients to their own homes for as long as possible
thus allowing the aged in the community to remain independent. The Liaison Scheme
acts as a monitoring process for patients particularly at risk, and the geriatric ward
is then a treatment area, with patients being admitted for treatment and then
transferred home when their condition improves or becomes stabilised. The success
of a scheme of this kind lies in the means of communication and the following up
of patients to assess performance and speedy re-admission should the need arise.
The task is enormous and there are some limitations to the full operation of the
scheme but there have been results of which we are justly proud. During the year
the Geriatrician accompanied by the Liaison Sister undertook 286 examinations
of patients within their own homes prior to their admission to the Geriatric Unit.
Patients discharged from the unit are referred to the District Nursing Sisters and
extra visits are made by the Liaison Sisters; 475 such visits were made during the
year. The work of the Liaison Sister requires 38% of her time to be spent in the
hospital working with the Geriatrician and the remainder on the district.
Nursing Staff
There were some staff changes during the year, but recruitment was generally good
and vacancies were quickly filled. At the end of the year the establishment was: —
State Registered Nurses (Female) 45
State Registered Nurses (Male) 10
State Enrolled Nurses (Female) 17
Bathing Attendants 12
Education Programmes for Staff
District Nurse Training. Five members of staff undertook training for the National
Certificate in District Nursing and all were successful in the examination.
Practical Workers Instructor Course. Five members of the staff followed special
courses to enable them to undertake practical teaching of students.
First Line Management. Two members of staff, already undertaking Group
Leader responsibilities, undertook First Line Management Courses, to further equip
them for their task.
%
In-service Training—One-day Courses
A total of twelve nurses attended study days on a variety of subjects including: —
Community Coronary Care
Renal Dialysis
Care of the Feet
Colostomy and Ileostomy Care, and
Continuity of Patient Care
In-service Training—Seven-day Courses
In conjunction with St. Thomas's Hospital a full programme on "Current Hospital
Practice" was arranged and eight State Registered Nurses participated. This venture
was such a success that we hope to develop a further course with our own local
hospital. In addition one other member of staff was able to attend a course on
"Working in General Practice" and another on "Community care in the Seventies".
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