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Cancer patients — often terminal cases —- require all the care and attention
they can get and the valuable contribution made under this scheme is greatly
appreciated by patients and relatives. During the year, 28 patients were provided
with this service.
At the end of the year, there were on the Health Department's Register
three Marie Curie nurses available under the scheme to nurse patients within the
Borough. These nurses receive a retaining fee when not actually employed. In addition,
two other nurses, who were not on the register, expressed their willingness to
undertake nursing duties under this scheme if required.
Liaison with General Practitioners
The work of the home nurse is under the personal direction of the family
doctor responsible for the patient's care. Home nurses maintain a very close liaison
with the doctors concerned although none is at present attached to a particular
general medical practice.
Use of Ancillary Help
A survey of the work of home nurses carried out during the year showed that
about 250 of a total of 300 visits a week for bathing patients could be undertaken
by less skilled staff. Consequently two nursing auxiliaries have been added to the
establishment for next year.
(See Statistical Table 16.)
VACCINATION AND IMMUNISATION
Under Section 26 of the National Health Service Act, 1946, every local health
authority is required to make arrangements with medical practitioners for the
vaccination of persons in the area of the authority against smallpox, and the
immunisation of such persons against diphtheria.
The Minister of Health has also approved proposals for immunisation against
whooping cough, poliomyelitis and tetanus. Approval was given last year for the
vaccination against anthrax of workers in specified industries but there are no such
workers known to be at risk in this Borough.
Vaccination and immunisation is provided jointly by the general medical practitioner
and local health authority services. A fee is paid by the Council to general
medical practitioners for records of completed courses and reinforcing doses of
immunisation and vaccination of persons under 16 years of age. Of the total
number of 8,190 primary courses (lines 1-9 of Table 17(a)) 2,849 were undertaken
by general medical practitioners and 5,341 by the Council's medical officers. Of
the total number of 10,549 reinforcing doses (lines 1-9 of Table 17(b)) 2,711 were
given by general medical practitioners and 7,838 by the Council's medical officers.
With regard to smallpox, general medical practitioners undertook 1,249 primary
vaccinations and 248 revaccinations compared with 1,712 primary vaccinations and
33 revaccinations by the Council's medical officers.
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