View report page

PREVENTION OF ILLNESS. CARE
AND AFTER-CARE
HOME NURSING SERVICE
There was no marked increase in the proportion of elderly sick, 65 years
and over, nursed during the year. The total of 713 new patients for the year is
not in excess of other years. Similarly, there was no increase in the young
chronic sick, 5-65 years. There were six new patients with disseminated
sclerosis. The number of patients discharged from hospital for further care at
home was 306. The actual figures of patients discharged from hospital are
probably higher than shown, because requests for treatment are sent by hospitals
to the doctor and passed on by him to the district nursing service.
A total of 11,850 blanket baths were given during the year. This is
approximately 20% of the total number of visits paid to all patients (61,171).
The number of patients requiring blanket baths varies from month to month, but
on average there are 270 patients having weekly baths, plus a few daily according
to their,condition; e.g. incontinent patients.
An analysis of the time spent by the home nurse shows the following:-
Injections, all types, quarter-hour each patient, new patients half-hour.
Dressings, all types, half-hour, new patients one hour.
General care or blanket bath half-hour, new patients one hour.
Bowel washouts, enemas, bladder washouts, and attention to colostomies,
half-hour each patient. More time is allowed if needed, according
to each individual patient's requirements.
The extra time allowed where new patients are concerned, is taken in giving
advice and instruction to relatives or friends who may be caring for the patient,
or to the patient him/herself. It also falls to the nurse on occasions,
particularly in winter months, to light fires, make tea, and obtain prescriptions
from doctors' surgeries and take them to the chemist, in order to carry
out necessary treatment. This happens in many cases where a patient lives alone
and has no home help or relatives visiting.
Time is also spent in rehabilitation of patients, teaching diabetics to
give their own injections where possible, and teaching patients who have had
strokes exercises in walking and in the use of their hands again where possible.
There are six hydraulic hoists in use in the Borough, and one electric
hoist which is on loan from Barking Hospital. Other nursing aids in use are
four "Easinurse" mattresses, four "Easinurse" cushions, one "Easinurse"
bedstead, eight "Northbed" pads (artificial sheep-skin pads). Of great help in
nursing are incontinence pads which are issued in a similar manner as other
sick-room equipment; i.e. bed-pans, urinals, back-rests, draw sheets, air rings
and foam rubber rings, waterproof sheeting, bed-cradles and feeding cups.
Students taking their district training numbered four, and these were all
successful in their examinations. They also obtained posts in the Borough on
qualification.
There were 29 State Registered Nurses (26 full-time and three part-time)
and one part-time State Enrolled Nurse employed against the authorised
32