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23
THE WORK OF THE COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICE
Miss A. Hayward, A.R.R.C., T.D., S.R.N., S.C.M., H.V. Cert.,
Director of Nursing Services
During 1972, preparations were being made nationally and intenatinally
to improve and safeguard professional standards of nurses. In
Brussels a watching brief was kept as Britain moved nearer to joining the
European Economic Community; at home, interest was building up as reorganisation
of the National Health Service came closer, and in October
the Committee on Nursing, under the chairmanship of Professor Asa
Briggs, published their report. All three events must have long term effects
on nursing, but the Asa Briggs' proposals and National Health Service reorganisation
will affect the service sooner. Staff morale has remained high
in spite of the original interpretation that Health Visitor training was to
leave the main stream of adult education and join Nursing and Midwifery
training in Colleges of Nursing. Anxiety has also been expressed by all
grades of nurses about the number of levels of Management proposed for
the unified service.
Discussions between the Council and the Department of Health and
Social Security about an appropriate management structure for the nursing
service took place in the early part of the year. Final agreement was reached
in July, when approval was given for functional management. (See chart on
page 100).Croydon has had a Chief Nursing Officer since 1965 and the new
structure required few alterations in the existing pattern. The transition was
complete and all personnel were in post by the end of the year.
In preparation for unification of the National Health Service at local
level, the Establishment Committee agreed that:—
(a) A Nursing Officer (Home Nursing) should be allocated to each of
the main hospitals in the group to act as Liaison Officer,
(b) the existing Health Visitor Liaison Scheme with the Paediatric
Department should be extended,
(c) one week's community experience should be offered to all line
managers in the hospital service,
(d) and one to two days community experience should be offered to
ward sisters.
The Hospital Establishment Committee welcomed these proposals and
agreed that Nurse Managers in the Community Nursing Service should spend
one week with their opposite number in the Hospital Service. Considerable
progress had been made on the first two proposals by the end of the year
and in November the first exchange of Nursing Officers took place. This
proved to be well worthwhile. All community staff and most of the hospital
staff will have participated by April 1st 1974,