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9
Health Visiting
7.—As with Midwifery and Home Nursing this is in Croydon
a specialised service, except that all Health Visitors are also
School Nurses, with the same areas for the two functions. Health
Visitors are expected to meet the District Midwife at the home
of a lying-in mother between the 10th-14th day, so that there is
no sudden break in the advice being given. Visiting of old
people, foster children, cases of minor notifiable infectious
diseases and housing cases also come within her duties as do
Mothercraft lectures to expectant mothers, to Parent-Teacher
Associations and Women's organisations. There is close personal
connection with the Almoners of local hospitals, and many reports
are furnished for London Teaching Hospitals. Practical training
of Health Visitor students is performed for the Royal College of
Nursing. All Croydon Health Visitors have the necessary
certificate on appointment and special training facilities for
appointed staff has not been required. Vacancies have always,
so far, been satisfactorily filled. Refresher courses are arranged
as for Midwives, but special local lecture courses on "Mental
Health" and "Health Education" have been held. The general
problem of integration with the general practitioner service has
not been solved, but recognition of its importance has not been
overlooked.
Home Nursing
8.—The Corporation have maintained their agency arrangement
with the Croydon District Nursing Association subject
"to the Medical Officer of Health supervising the services so
provided." The service operates from a central hostel, although
the majority of the staff are non-resident. The direct availability
of the Supervisor and her Assistants makes co-operation with
general practitioners simple and effective. The hospital requests
for services discharge form used throughout the London area is
employed in Croydon and works well. The details of actual cases
nursed are given in later tables, but the chronic sick and aged
constitute the major type of patient. The Corporation have
supplied approximately 25 per cent. of the nurses with small
vans and motor-cycles, these being allocated to the male nurses
and those with scattered or hilly districts. A rota for night duty
gives each nurse about one night on call per month. An
Ambulance Service car takes nurses without their own transport
for these emergency night visits. The Association is recognised
for practical District Nurse training, lectures being taken through
the Headquarters of the Queen's Institute. Refresher courses
are arranged for trained staff as for other nursing officers.