View report page

PERSONAL HEALTH SERVICES
Existing Clinic Provision
Full information in respect of the Council's clinics and the key to the services
provided, is set out in a table to be found on page 108.
Co-ordination and Co-operation with Hospital and General Practitioner Services
Meetings took place between the staff of Edgware General Hospital, General
Practitioners and the Authority's staff with a view to commencing, early in 1970, an
early discharge plan for cold surgery cases.
The liaison between the Authority's home nursing staff and hospital nursing staff was
further improved by the commencement of regular visits by the Authority's staff to local
hospitals to discuss those cases for discharge that were to be nursed in the community,
and to provide information on the social aspects of cases being admitted to hospital.
Home nurses now attend General Practitioners' surgeries during surgery hours and
are able to give injections and other treatment requested by the doctor on the spot instead
of, as previously, attending the patient's home after receiving a request from Central
Control. This conservation of time means that the nurse can carry out more treatment
for house-bound patients unable to attend the doctor's surgery. General Practitioners
appreciate the role and skills of the home nurse and are able to use her services very
effectively. She is dealing with the important social aspects of treatment to a greater
extent than previously.
Owing to the changing midwifery pattern, domiciliary midwives have been able to form
a closer liaison with the local hospital maternity units by attendance in the wards and in
ante-natal Out-patients Departments. Some midwives have the opportunity of delivering
their patients who are booked for early discharge from the hospital, thereby providing a
continuity of patient care.
By the end of the year, all health visitors had changed from working in a geographical
area to working in a group practice or with two or more independent Practitioners. Where
practicable, the health visitor is allotted accommodation in the General Practitioner's
premises in order that she may see patients when they need her.
Health Visiting
It has been a year of great change for the health visiting service.
Although spending a total of 2955 hours during the year in attendance at General
91