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In-service Training—Refresher Courses
One nursing officer completed a Middle Management Course during the year, and two senior
health visitors attended a First Line Management Course. All assistant nursing officers have now
attended Middle Management Courses, but as there have been such frequent changes in this grade
in the City Council's service, this cannot be regarded as a permanent situation, e.g. two assistant
nursing officers left the Council's service during the year, and two joined so that further training will
undoubtedly be required in the future.
Six health visitors were given Field Work Instruction Training during the year, and one assistant
nursing officer completed her District Nurse Training course. One health visitor attended a Refresher
Course.
All nursing staff are heavily involved in training students in the different disciplines, resulting in
regular and frequent commitments, as well as the day to day work of the Department. This, of course,
is inevitable if the standard of work and service to the community is to be maintained.
Liaison with Hospitals
The liaison scheme, commenced in 1969, whereby members of the nursing staff attend weekly
sessions with the consultant geriatricians and their staffs at two teaching hospitals to ensure that all
necessary services are available to patients upon return home from hospital, has continued. This
arrangement has proved of great value in the field of care to the aged and discussions are taking
place with other hospitals to enlarge the scheme.
Health Education
Weekly teaching sessions continue in schools and Technical Colleges, and displays and exhibitions
were organised.
Regular Health Education sessions for mothers on ante-natal preparation, child care and house
management are held in all the Maternal and Child Health Centres.
The English language classes for mothers continue with health visitors encouraging and persuading
them to attend.
School Health Service
Most nursing staff take part in this service. Health surveys are undertaken and also preparation for
and assistance at medical examinations. Here continuity is more difficult to organise, as the frequent
turn-over of staff is a problem.
Health Visitor Training Sponsorship
Students come forward for sponsorship, but this is not such a satisfactory field of recruitment as
it has been in previous years. It appears that numbers are falling nationally and a similar pattern is
apparent in Westminster.
Recruitment of trained staff is also more difficult reflecting the national situation, and conditions
of work and housing in Central London does not help the situation.
Family Planning
The City Council has fully implemented the provisions of the National Health Service (Family
Planning) Act, 1967. The service is provided both directly by the City Council and by use of the
Family Planning Association and the Catholic Marriage Advisory Service, both of these organisations
having the free use of accommodation in Health Department establishments. All forms of contraception
are available and free advice is provided for all residents of the City irrespective of marital status
and sex, and where family planning is needed on medical grounds, supplies of appliances or drugs
are provided free of charge. The City Council makes a financial contribution to the Family Planning
Association in respect of service given to Westminster residents. Persons living outside the City of
Westminster may attend the Family Planning Association's clinics run in the Council's establishments
in which case the Association applies to the appropriate local authority for reimbursement of
their expenses.