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III. PERSONAL HEALTH SERVICES
The Principal Nursing Officer, Mrs. D.E. Marrin, reports as follows:-
''Staff recruitment in the Health Visiting and School/Clinic Nurse services remained
steady, although turnover was rapid Six Student Health Visitors were sponsored during
the year and training places were provided for six additional Health Visitors by
arrangements with the various Colleges. One Health Visitor who left the service has
joined Voluntary Services Overseas and has been appointed to a post in Kenya; it is
hoped to publish a short article on her experiences there in due course.
Day Nurseries
It has been difficult to recruit staff of a suitable calibre for the Day Nurseries,
especially the trained Nursery Nurse grade, of which there is a continuing shortage.
As a result of a routine inspection at two of the Council's Day Nurseries by
Inspectors from the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education, the Christian Street
Day Nursery has been upgraded as a Training Nursery, This should result in a better
ratio of trained Nursery Nurses in our Borough.
The places in the Special Unit for handicapped children, which is attached to Queen
Mary Day Nursery, have been increased to ten to meet the increased demand,
CIinic Centre Activities
Health Visitors continue to carry out combined school nursing/health visiting
duties and all School/Clinic Nurses continue to take part in the Maternity and Child
Welfare Services,
Cytology
The Supervisor of Midwives assisted in a project aimed at taking the cytology test
to women working in factories in the Borough, but response to this facility was rather
disappointing The cytology sessions in the two Borough Clinics continue to thrive.
Family Planning
One Health Visitor assisted a doctor in starting a project to provide family planning
facilities for mothers in their own home, who were unable, for various reasons, to avail
themselves of the clinic facilities Some degree of success has been reported The Health
Visitor withdrew after initiating this project and the Supervisor of Midwives is
continuing supervision of mothers in the group,
A number of nursing staff have attended the Family Planning Association's Two-Day
Lecture Course and it is to be hoped that arrangements will be made for them to attend
the eight practical sessions necessary to complete the training and obtain the recognised
Cert if icate.
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