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13. HOME NURSING
This service is provided under Section 25 of the National Health Service Act,
1946, for sick and aged persons living in their own homes. The Council's Home
Nursing staff consists of a Chief Nursing Officer (Midwifery and Home Nursing) a
deputy, and a full-time equivalent of 45 nurses. 12 nurses are part-time, which is a
high proportion of the total, but this works satisfactorily, and is an effective way of
utilising the services of married nurses. 3 of the staff are male nurses who prove
extremely useful in appropriate cases.
Patients are referred to the department almost entirely from hospitals (70%)
and general practitioners (20%). The type of work ranges through short term care of
acutely ill patients, post operative dressings and injections, the regular care of the
aged and chronic sick, and finally to terminal care.
The Home Nursing Service works in collaboration with two voluntary
organizations in a most effective way:-
Firstly, the Council acts as the local agent for the Marie Curie Foundation,
which provides without charge, day and night assistance to patients with terminal
cancer. A register of nurses willing to provide a night sitting service is kept in
the department, and I am authorized to engage them for this work on behalf of the
Foundation. This is a most valuable service, and during the year 17 patients were
nursed in this way.
Secondly, the British Red Cross Society act as the Council's agent under
Section 28 of the National Health Service Act, for the loan of nursing equipment. A
small charge is made to the patient to cover replacement of equipment as required,
but if this is unable to be met, the charge is paid by the Council. The Health
Department arranges for the transport of heavy equipment. There were 2,291 articles
loaned to patients during the year.
There were two developments which affected the Home Nursing Services:-
1) Whilst I have noted above that with the help of the Marie Curie
Foundation we are able to provide a night nursing service for cancer
sufferers,we have not up till now had such a service for other types of
patient whose need is often equal, examples are those suffering from
severe heart disease or strokes. Towards the end of the year an
increase in establishment of 4 State Enrolled nurses has enabled us to
plan such a service which it is hoped to put into operation early in 1967.
This, it is worth noting, will be the first occasion that State Enrolled
Nurses have been employed in the Council's nursing service, and is
in conformity with Ministry wishes that the more practical parts of
nursing are carried out by such staff. This should enable the State
Registered Nurses to undertake the more technical duties.
2) Ministry of Health Circular 14/66 was received towards the end of the
year and commends the provision of incontinence pads and protective
clothing by all local authorities to an extent which ensures that they
are made available for all those to whom they can be of benefit. A
limited scheme is already in existence in the Borough but this is on a
small scale, and restricted to persons in receipt of home nursing. The
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