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18
Professional Nursing in the Home.
(1) General.—As noted in previous reports the Greater Ealing
Nursing Association maintains five nurses to supply the needs of
sick nursing in the homes of the people. Northolt, with which
communication with the rest of the district is difficult owing to
lack of sufficient roadways, has a Nursing Association of its own.
When, however, inter-communication is made practicable it is
hoped that the Northolt Association will join up with the Greater
Ealing Nursing Association so as to form one body serving the needs
of the whole Borough. It will then be possible to secure co-operation
between the nurses and greater efficiency of service.
The Nursing Association obtains its funds mainly through
voluntary subscriptions, though every effort is being made to
run it on Provident lines as a result of which the people, by making
monthly or annual contributions, will be able to call for the services
of the nurses when needed.
(2) Infectious Diseases.—The Ealing Town Council makes a
contribution of £150 towards the Greater Ealing Nursing Association
and one of £25 towards the Northolt Nursing Association,
in return for which nursing assistance is given to children under five
years of age suffering from ophthahnia neonatorum, measles,
whooping cough, poliomyelitis and diarrhoea. The nurses are also
supposed to render a certain amount of assistance at the Health
Centres in the weighing of children attending there. By their
attendance at the Centres a certain measure of co-operation is
obtained between the Nurses and the Health Visitors, which is so
essential for the work of both branches of nursing work.
(3) Midwives.—In the Borough there are in practice 32.
midwives, of whom seven are engaged at the Maternity Hospital
The Town Council in its scheme of maternity welfare does not
employ any particular midwife when supplying maternity aid for
expectant mothers in necessitous circumstances. A midwife living
near to the patient's residence is engaged and paid by the Town
Council. As the work of all the midwives in the district has been
found to be very satisfactory any one of them may be engaged
with some degree of confidence.