View report page

24
nurses have found that the variety of work brought about by this change
rewarding and stimulating.
About 90 per cent of the registered nurses are district trained and it
is desirable that the enrolled nurse should also have the extra qualification.
The enrolled nurse, taught in her training to observe and report, is
able when working in hospital to summon aid quickly. It is also much easier
to monitor and control her performance in the ward situation. There were
several vacancies in this grade at the beginning of 1971 and recruitment was
slow, but by the end of the year the service was fully staffed, and work was
beginning to outstrip the approved staff establishment.
Domiciliary Midwifery
The number of home confinements fell again in 1971 but early discharges
from hospital increased by about 11 per cent over 1970.
All the midwives have now been taught the techniques of perineal infiltration
and episiotomy and the Corporation is indebted to the medical and
nursing staff of Mayday Hospital for making the training available.
Health Visiting Service
For the first time for some years a full establishment of Health Visitors
was achieved in September when 10 sponsored Health Visitor students
successfully completed the training course and joined the staff. Sponsored
students remain the main source of recruitment to the service and it is regrettable
that it was only possible to recruit six students for current training.
During the year the number of Health Visitors working in general practitioner
attachment and liaison schemes increased to the point where more than
50 per cent Health Visitors were working in this way. The opening of the
Parkway Health Centre provided a welcome opportunity to place all the New
Addington Health Visitors on a general practice basis with the general
practitioners who serve the area .
The advantage of Health Visitors working more closely with the general
practitioners is to extend their health education, counselling and supportive
roles to "at risk" groups in the community other than families with young
children. This is clearly demonstrated in the increased number of visits paid
to old people, the mentally sick and to other age groups.
It was with some regret that the Health Visitors passed over their work
in relation to the day care of children to the Social Services Department at
the end of the year. Nevertheless, the Health Visitors welcome the opportunity
to use their skills with other priority groups in the community.
See Appendix page 98.