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During the year, the non-medical supervisor of midwives obtained a Queen's Certificate
in District Nursing. In view of the decreasing number of domiciliary confinements, she
ceased working as a district midwife in December. In addition to her statutory functions
relating to all practising midwives in the area (including those in hospitals) she has
been assisting in the supervision of the home bathing service, and in assessment visits
for provision of laundry service and nursing equipment.
Liaison with the local hospitals is being maintained and strengthened, both in the
midwifery and health visiting services by attendance of staff at paediatric and maternity
wards. Induction talks to new members of the nursing and health visiting staff with a
view to orientating them quickly into the wide scope of the local authority services ,
have been given by the senior nursing officers who have also given talks on the local
authority services to hospital staff, student social workers from overseas and other
groups.
The staff have continued to assist with the large number (approximately 400) of
observation visits made to the clinics, schools, nurseries and homes in the borough by
medical students, student nurses and social workers from overseas and this country.
Six health visitor students successfully completed their training in September and
eight commenced training during the year, in addition to which practical experience was
also provided for eight additional health visitor students in co-operation with four
training colleges.
Difficulty has been experienced in recruiting trained nursery nurses and nursing
staff for the sick bay at the Hornchurch children's home. Recruitment in the clinic
nurse/school nurse grade has been steady, and when selecting for this grade consideration
is given to possible future recruitment from these applicants for the health visitor's
training."
ANTE- AND POST-NATAL CLINICS
Sessions are conducted in Council clinics by midwives and medical officers for ante- and
post-natal examinations. In addition six general practitioners undertake ante-natal work for
their own patients in Council clinics which are made available to them free of charge, and
with a domiciliary midwife in attendance. (Statistics on page 101).
ANTE-NATAL MOTHERCRAFT AND RELAXATION CLASSES
These classes are held by domiciliary midwives and health visitors in Council clinics
for both institutional and domiciliary booked cases. (Statistics on page 101).
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