View report page

HOME NURSING SERVICE
the home nursing service was provided, as hitherto, by 26 voluntary district
nursing associations acting as agents for the Council, liaison being maintained through
the Central Council for District Nursing in London. These associations (with one
exception where a block grant is paid) were grant aided to the extent of 90 per cent. in
1952-53, 92 per cent. in 1953-54, and 93 per cent. since 1954-55.
The number of staff employed at the end of 1956 was as follows :
Total number of nurses employed, whole-time and part-
time 584
Full-time equivalent of nurses employed 538
Number of trained district nurses 327
Number of state enrolled assistant nurses 35
Number of male nurses 38
Twelve district nursing associations undertake district nurse training.
The total number of visits paid was 1,962,733 (1,953,182 in 1955) giving a daily
average of thirteen visits for each nurse. Of the total visits 871,973 were paid by nurses
for the sole purpose of giving injections, and 131,302 for injection and other treatment
at the same visit. There were in addition, as a result of encouragement given to ambulatory
patients to attend at centres, 32,694 such attendances for injections only, 32 for
injection and other treatment at the same attendance, and 189 for purposes other than
injection, e.g., dressings.

Taking both sexes together, 43 per cent. of all patients whose treatment was completed
were 65 years of age and over (41 per cent. in 1955). Children under the age of
five years accounted for 5 per cent. of the total (6 per cent. in 1955).
69