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111 PERSONAL HEALTH SERVICES
The Principal Nursing Officer, Mrs. D. E. Marrin, reports as follows:-
Main changes in the nursing services
''One Assistant Nursing Officer resigned for domestic reasons and a former Centre
Superintendent on the Borough staff was appointed to replace her.An additional
Assistant Nursing Officer was appointed to meet the requirements of the new nursery and
child minders legislation.
The Home Nursing service transferred in April from its voluntary grant aided
setting: to the direct service of the Council, all the home nurses now being based at
Cheviot House, It has so far proved difficult to achieve the full establishment of
home nurses, a small number still being recruited from private agencies.
During the year 84,927 home nursing visits were paid in addition to those
undertaken by Bathing Attendants Over 50% of these visits were to citizens over 65
and the social content of the home nurses' visiting increased accordingly,
Heaith Visiting
The health visiting service is provided by the Council under Section 24 of the
National Health Service Act 1946 The many faceted work of the health visitor has
direct and indirect links with all the social services provided for every member of
the family. She maintains close liaison with general practit bners, social workers and
hospitals. Her important function of health education is continued by parentcraft
classes and films in the clinics, by mothers' clubs, home visits and talks in schools.
Nine health visitors were appointed during 1969 and there were nine resignations, but
as 1969 was the best year ever for recruitment to training nationally (the Council
for the Training of Health Visitors reports 1,000 candidates) it is hoped recruitment
and retention of those trained will improve.
Mental Heaith Emergency Rota
Health Visitors continue to assist on the mental health emergency rota at night,
week-ends and Bank Holidays
School Health Service
The outbreak of influenza among the staff in December and January, brought
additional pressure on all nursing staff left on duty. The clinic and school nurses
were markedly willing to leave their own work in hand and relieve, repeatedly at short
notice, over wide areas of the Borough to ensure the maintenance of the school nursing
service.
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