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47
Health Visitor Training Sponsorship
Seven students came forward for sponsorship and were successful in the examination held in the summer
of 1971. Whilst this was a useful source of recruitment it did not keep pace with normal wastage. It is
intended therefore in 1972 to increase the number of sponsored students to ten which will be some added
assistance to recruitment.
HOME NURSING
The Home Nursing Service is provided to give nursing care in the community to the sick and disabled of
all ages. The establishment of bathing attendants was increased by two during the year to help meet the
needs of the frail elderly. Teams of state registered and state-enrolled nurses with auxiliaries care for
patients who are the medical responsibility of the family doctor. Liaison schemes with general practitioners
are developing when full attachment is not appropriate. Close contact is also maintained with hospitals in
the area. Although a 24 hour service is not yet available, arrangements are made through voluntary
associations to provide night nursing when urgently required.
Organisation
Requests for home nursing can be received at all times, including weekends, at City Hall. Direct contact
between doctor and nurse is frequently possible at the surgeries or at the district nursing centres which are
now situated at 117 Sutherland Avenue, W.9, 36 Great Smith Street, S.W.1, and the M. & C.H. Centres at
20B Lancefield Street, W.10 and the Council House Extension, Upper Montagu Street, W.1. Visits to
patients are made between 8.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. with a late-call nurse working until 10 p.m. An early
evening clinic for ambulant or working patients is held at 117 Sutherland Avenue.
Training
During the year eight state registered nurses and six state enrolled nurses qualified for the respective
National Certificates in District Nursing. Half of that total were nurses from hospitals with integrated nurse
training schemes who were not members of the City Council's staff. Further groups from the integrated
courses started their district nurse training, to be completed during the next two years.
Observation visits
Three ward sisters, twelve diploma of nursing students and twenty four medical students from the
Middlesex Hospital each spent a day observing the work of the district nurse. Fourteen pupil nurses from
Westminster Hospital each spent two weeks working with the district nurses.
Although the department continued to take student nurses for short periods of observation the numbers
were decreased in 1971 due to an experimental implementation of the 1969 General Nursing Council
syllabus. This recommended that all student nurses should have community experience as one of four
options and by 1974 one of two options. Accordingly in 1971 it was agreed that small groups of student
nurses from Westminster and Middlesex Hospitals should spend six weeks observing the community
services; the first week of this period was spent with the district nurses. Nineteen girls came from the
hospitals for this experience during the year and all expressed their great appreciation of the knowledge
gained. (See further report, page 48).
Courses
One senior district nurse attended a first-line management course, two undertook the practical work
instructors' course and three attended refresher courses. Several nurses attended study days. The
organisations used for courses were the Queen's Institute of District Nursing, Chiswick Technical College
and the London Boroughs Training Committee.
Paediatric Home Care Unit
A qualified district nurse works with the paediatric home care unit at St. Mary's Hospital, visiting sick
children at home to help and advise on their nursing care. An increasing number of children are being
discharged early from hospital into the care of the unit, and in a number of cases admission to hospital is
avoided altogether.