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The Department's visual aids were used to illustrate talks given by medical officers, health visitors,
social workers, public health inspectors and the Assistant for Health Education in the City Hall,
maternal and child welfare centres, schools, Colleges for Further Education, catering organisations
and local organisations. The topics of these talks were Home Safety, Ante Natal Care, Parentcraft,
Food Hygiene, Nutrition, Venereal Diseases, General Health and Hygiene.
The Assistant for Health Education, who is a member of the Greater London Home Safety Council,
represented the City Council at the National Home Safety Conference which was held at Friends
House, Euston, on 21 st and 22nd October 1970. The theme of the conference was "Home Safety—
Education in the Seventies".
As a preliminary to the 1971 Dental Health Campaign in Primary Schools in Westminster, Head
Teachers from these schools were invited to the City Hall to discuss plans for the campaign. These
plans were fully endorsed by them and a detailed report on the campaign will be given in my 1971
report.
BLIND AND PARTIALLY SIGHTED PERSONS
The City Council's Welfare Department provides services under the provisions of the National
Assistance Act 1948 for registered blind and partially sighted persons. On behalf of that department
the Health Department during 1970 carried out 127 examinations (130 in 1969) of such persons in
respect of certification under the Act. Of these 63 were new cases and 64 were re-examinations. In
addition 56 (65) certificates were also accepted from hospitals and other local authorities.
HOME NURSING
The sick and the disabled of all ages are nursed in their own homes by teams of state registered
and state enrolled district nurses assisted by bathing attendants. The district nurses have a close
working relationship with the general practitioners in the area, and during the year two more group
practice attachments were formed. Closer liaison with the hospitals is developing. Skilled treatments
are carried out and special equipment is available; nevertheless, more acute work could still be
undertaken in the community. The increasing needs of the elderly chronic sick could be largely met
by the judicial use of ancillary staff with the support of the social services. During the year, district
nurses have attended Old People's Liaison meetings in their areas, when all staff involved in the care
of the elderly pool their knowledge and resources.
Organisation
In the Group Practice attachments the district nurses have daily personal contact with their
doctors, but otherwise messages are taken from general practitioners and hospital staff throughout
the 24 hours at City Hall.
The majority of the nursing staff work from two centres—117 Sutherland Avenue for areas north
of Oxford Street and Bayswater Road, and 36 Great Smith Street for the southern areas. Visits to
patients are made between 8.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. with an emergency service until 10 p.m. An
evening clinic for ambulant or working patients requiring treatment is held at 117 Sutherland
Avenue.
Training
During the year seven state registered nurses, plus two Hammersmith Hospital Integrated Course
students, qualified for the National Certificate in District Nursing. Two remained on the staff at the
end of the year.
Seven state enrolled nurses, plus six Middlesex Hospital Integrated pupil nurses qualified in
district nursing during the year, five of this total remaining on the staff. Six Hammersmith Hospital
student nurses and thirteen Middlesex pupil nurses spent varying periods in district nursing as part
of their Integrated Courses to be completed in 1971 and 1972. It is therefore obvious that although
much time is spent by the permanent staff in training nurses for work in the community, the majority
do not continue to work in Westminster.