View report page

39
Training
All the nursing staff hold either the S.R.N, or S.E.N, qualifications. State registered nurses receive
training for three of four months in association with the Queen's Institute of District Nursing for
the Diploma of District Nursing. This scheme is sponsored by the City Council and the students
are required to work within the City for a further year on completion of the course.
Education
In conjunction with Hammersmith Hospital and the Battersea College of Technology (to be
known as the University of Surrey), the City Council participates in an integrated scheme for a
training course incorporating state registration, health visiting and district nursing respectively.
The complement of state enrolled nurses is to be increased to relieve the state registered nurses of
some of the less skilled nursing duties. An In-Service Training Scheme to give district nurse training
to State Enrolled Nurses is shortly to be introduced in Westminster.
Refresher Courses
These continue to be arranged regularly for the nursing staff, enabling them to keep up-to-date
with nursing techniques.
City of Westminster District Nursing Association
The City of Westminster District Nursing Association, which was formed last year, continues
to take an active interest in the welfare and provision of amenities for patients and staff.
Decoration and refurnishing of Nursing Service
Headquarters and Nurses' Home
An extensive programme of decorating, repairing, refurnishing and re-equipping the Headquarters
building at No. 117 Sutherland Avenue, and the Nurses' Home at No. 90, was approved by the
Health Committee; work was well in hand at the end of 1966 and will be continued in 1967.
DOMICILIARY MIDWIFERY
Staff Establishment
Midwives — Full time 4
„ — Part time 1
,, — Pupils 2
The City Council is required by the National Health Service Act, 1946, to provide a sufficient
number of certified midwives to attend women in confinement in their own homes.
The City Council provides this service directly except in the S.W.1. postal area (the area of "old"
Westminster south of the Royal Parks) where the Westminster Hospital provides the service on an
agency basis. In general the midwives provide a comprehensive service including ante-natal
care in co-operation with the patients' own doctor, and also the nursing of cases discharged early
from hospital. Every effort is made by visiting the patient in hospital to ensure continuity of care for
those women who are not confined at home but who will require maternity nursing on discharge.
Domiciliary Confinements
There has been a steady decline in the number of domiciliary confinements and a marked increase
in the number of 48 hour and early discharge of nursing mothers.
The domiciliary midwives and pupil midwives attend the local health authority and hospital
clinics for antenatal mothers.
Training
District training is provided for pupil midwives taking Part II Midwifery Training at Paddington
General Hospital, each pupil being seconded to the City Council for three months.
Two of the Council's midwives have special approval from the Central Midwives Board to
supervise this training.
LOAN OF HOME NURSING EQUIPMENT
The City Council's scheme for the free loan of nursing equipment continues to be of great help
to the residents of Westminster and, as envisaged, the requests for equipment during 1966 increased
as the service became more widely known.
The items covered by the scheme include hoists; hospital beds (complete with built-in back
rests, poles, chains and rings, to enable patients to raise themselves in bed if they are able to do so);
walking aids of every type; combined indoor and outdoor wheelchairs, and armchair commodes.
Smaller items such as bed pans, urine bottles and waterproof sheeting are issued free of charge
by the Westminster Division of the British Red Cross Society on behalf of the City Council and the
Health Department is very appreciative of this service.