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77
To give the necessary physical, emotional and social support, it
is essential that all members of the community nursing team coordinate
their work and ensure that there is communication between
hospitals and local authority services.
The health visitors made 1,474 first visits to old people during
the year.
MEDICAL EXAMINATION OF STAFF
The medical examination of existing and prospective staff is
undertaken in the Health Department on behalf of all departments
of the Council. Before appointment, every prospective
new entrant to the service is requested to complete a medical
questionnaire for scrutiny by a medical officer and about 1,7???
questionnaires were scrutinised in the year. About 25 per cent of
prospective entrants are subsequently called for a physical examination,
either because of their age, the nature of the employment
they are taking, or because of their medical history. In addition
to its work in relation to new entrants to the service, the Health
Department carried out 210 special medical examinations of existing
staff at the request of the Council's Establishment Officer,
arising from extended sick leave or other reasons related to their
employment with the Council.
STAFF TRAINING AND STUDENT TRAINING
Nine out of ten student health visitors sponsored by the Council
were successful in the examination which followed the Health
Visitors Training Course, and seven of them are now working
with us.
Visits of observation to clinics and day nurseries were arranged
for a number of student nurses from local hospitals. They also
saw something of the work of the health visitors and home nurses.
Six nursery nurses were successful in the examination of the
National Nursery Examination Board and three of them were
still working with us at the end of the year. One day nursery
matron left the service having reached retiring age and the deputy
matron was appointed in her place.
Twenty-five pupil midwives from the South London Hospital
for Women completed their district training with our midwives,
who also received obstetric nurse students from St. George's, the
Weir and Queen Mary's Hospitals for one day's district experience.
One home nurse completed a course in district nursing. The
home nurses have helped in taking student nurses from general
hospitals for a day's observation visit and three students from
Queen Mary's Hospital, Roehampton, who were in training for the
State Enrolled Nurses' Certificate, each received two weeks' district
experience.
A very successful one-day introductory course for home helps
was held at the new Tooting Centre in October and thirty-six
home helps attended.