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The use of the service is shown in the graph on page 71. The number of visits paid
and of treatments commenced rose to the customary peak in the March quarter. Although
there was again no serious epidemic during that quarter, the number of completed
treatments reached 19,435. This compares with 20,042 in the corresponding quarter of
1955, and 21,570 in 1953 when there was an influenza epidemic.
The Council provided cars on loan to some district nursing associations who needed
them but were unable to purchase them from their own resources. The Council
licensed, insured and periodically overhauled the cars, but running costs were borne by
the associations and ranked for grant. At the end of the year 23 cars were in use by
district nursing associations under this arrangement. In addition, the payment of mileage
allowance to nurses who used their own motorised vehicles on official duties was
recognised for grant purposes in approved cases.
During the year two meetings were held between officers of the Public Health
Department and representatives of the Central Council for District Nursing, at which
matters of mutual interest were discussed.
Refresher
courses
The Council has agreed to give a five-day refresher course every five years to all
district nurses employed in London. Places are taken for courses run by the Queen's
Institute of District Nursing, the Ranyard Nurses, and the Royal College of Nursing.
In October, 1956, the Council held a course for 30 nurses at the County Hall. The
course included lectures on poliomyelitis, the home treatment of and social services for
tuberculous and diabetic patients and demonstrations of the lifting and handling of
patients. Visits were paid to a hospital geriatric unit and to a children's hospital.
Superintendents and assistant superintendents of district nursing associations also
attended approved residential courses.
Close liaison was maintained between district nurses and their colleagues in the field
in other parts of the personal health services and district nurses attended informal
meetings, discussions and talks which were arranged by the divisional medical officers.
The district nursing associations play their part in giving student nurses from
hospitals an insight into the home nursing aspect of public health nursing.
Loan of home
nursing
equipment
The supply of small articles of equipment on loan to patients being nursed at home
was undertaken on the Council's behalf by the medical loan depots maintained by the
British Red Cross Society, who receive a block grant from the Council, and by the
district nursing associations (for their own patients) whose expenditure on this account
ranks for grant in the normal way.
Since January, 1953, the Council undertakes responsibility for the supply of large
and expensive items of equipment and all loan equipment needed for tuberculous
patients, as the voluntary organisations experience difficulty in purchasing and storing
such items, and maintaining the extensive stocks required for long-term loans. Requests
for lifting apparatus to assist the district nurses in the treatment of handicapped patients
continued to be made in increasing numbers. Close liaison is maintained with the
Council's Welfare Department on the question of the supply of home nursing equipment
for the handicapped.
A deposit and small charge, varying from 3d. to 1s. per week, is required from those
who can afford to pay, except that a deposit only is required from tuberculous patients.
Hospital authorities, general practitioners, and the Council's Welfare Department
are also empowered to provide various types of equipment and appliances. The dividing
line between the various responsibilities is not always easy to determine, and close
liaison with all three and the Ministry of Health is maintained to ensure that the patient
obtains the necessary equipment from the correct source with the least possible delay.
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