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57
BLIND AND PARTIALLY SIGHTED PERSONS
During 1969,130 (145) examinations were carried out by the Health Department for the certification
of blind and partially sighted persons under the provisions of the National Assistance Act, 1948.
Of these, 61 were new cases and 69 were re-examinations. This service is carried out in liaison with
the City Council's Welfare Department which provides welfare services for registered blind and
partially sighted persons. Sixty-five (45) certificates were also accepted from hospitals and other
local authorities.
HOME NURSING
Comprehensive nursing care is provided for the sick patient at home by home nursing teams
consisting of experienced state registered and state enrolled district nurses assisted by bathing
attendants. With the large number of visits requested for frail, elderly people not in need of skilled
nursing attention, more use was made of bathing attendants and this establishment was increased
slightly during the year.
The trained nursing staff carry out injections, dressings and other treatments requested by
hospitals or general practitioners. Closer liaison developed between the nursing staff and family
doctors during the year and in the hospital field co-operation was encouraged by the participation of
district nurses invited to study days arranged for hospital nurses. With the aid of other supportive
services and the use of special nursing equipment, many people were cared for at home who might
otherwise have required hospital admission. Special appreciation is due for the help given by the
Marie Curie Memorial Foundation when more intensive care, such as night nursing, was extended to
certain patients.
Organisation
Requests for home nursing are received throughout the twenty-four hours at City Hall and relayed
to the appropriate District Nursing Centre, 117 Sutherland Avenue, W.9 for areas north of Oxford
Street and Bayswater Road, and 36 Great Smith Street, S.W.1 for areas south of Oxford Street. The
nursing staff are based at these centres and visits are made to patients between 8.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m.
with an emergency service until 10 p.m. A clinic is held at 117 Sutherland Avenue from Monday to
Friday, 4.30 p.m. to 7 p.m. for ambulant or working patients requiring treatment.
Comfortable accommodation for staff is available in the Nurses' Hostel at Sutherland Avenue,
which has recently been renovated, redecorated and refurnished.
Training
A full report detailing courses provided for members of the nursing staff is set out in the General
section of this Report, page 16. Mention should also be made of the fact that five pupil nurses from
Middlesex Hospital spent two weeks district nursing as the first part of their integrated State Nurse/
District Nurse course.
Observation visits
Sixty-two student nurses from various hospitals in the area spent a day observing the work of
district nurses and four pupil nurses from Westminster Hospital enjoyed two weeks observation.
Courses
Several district nurses attended study days on subjects of specific interest. Two nurses attended
the Practical Work Instructors Course at Chiswick College; with the increasing demands for the
provision of instruction and experience in community nursing for hospital staff it is essential for
district nurses to have special preparation for this task.
Paediatric Home Care Unit
A district nurse works full-time with the St. Mary's Hospital Home Care Unit, visiting sick children
at home and advising and helping the mothers with their care.
Buckingham Palace Mews
A district nurse continues to be resident in the Royal Mews and provides nursing care for members
of the staff. The cost is reimbursed to the City Council.