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26
THE WORK OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING SERVICES
Miss A. Hayward, S.R.N., S.C.M., H.V. Cert.
Principal Nursing Officer.
Miss L.E. Oakley, Principal Nursing Officer of Croydon retired in
October, 1968 after working more than thirty years in the Public Health
Service - all of it in Croydon. She had seen two Local Government reorganisations,
and although the first, in 1948, had not had the same impact
in Croydon as in other London Boroughs, the London Government Act,;
1964 did increase the size of the Borough, bringing new staff and services
to be assimilated. Miss Oakley, who had been Superintendent Health
Visitor in Croydon since 1954, was appointed as Principal Nursing Officer
to the new London Borough, and using her many years of administrative
experience was able to set the pattern for a unified Borough Nursing
Service.
Domiciliary Midwifery Service
The work of the midwives in 1968 reflected the national tendency towards
more hospital confinements r suiting in a general reduction in
domiciliary bookings, with fewer primigravida being delivered at home. The
staff continued to care for an increased number of early discharges, most of
them unplanned.
Domiciliary Midwives have taken blood specimens for the Guthrie Test
from all babies in their care and dispatched these, together with those
collected by hospital staff to St. Ebba's Hospital Laboratory. They have
also been responsible for taking any repeat tests found to be necessary.
The Anti-D immunoglobulin treatment for Rhesus negative patients has
been started in the Borough this year.
For detailed figures see page 101.
Health Visiting Service
The staffing situation in this branch of the service improved during the
year, no doubt due in part to the Health Visitor Training Course at Croydon
Technical College. Five sponsered students successfully completed their
training and joined the staff in October 1968. Six more are currently training
at Croydon Technical College.
The amended legislation relating to child minding which became operative
in November placed an increasing burden on this section of the service.
The Specialist Health Visitor, who prior to November 1968 had visited Play
groups and Daily Minders, became responsible for the initial assessment of
all applicants. This ensured that a common standard was obtained. Health
Visitors paid follow-up visits to registered daily minders and the Specialist
Health Visitor, or the Deputy Superintendent Health Visitor continued to
supervise the larger Playgroups.
For detailed figures see page 108.