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Once again the health visiting recruitment position gave rise to concern. This
category of officer is generally in short supply and as the older members of this
profession retire or leave, difficulties in their replacement arise. Four student health
visitors qualified in September and were appointed to the staff.
Although the whole-time equivalent establishment of health visitors is 57, the
actual staff consisted of a superintendent, deputy superintendent, three group advisers,
three field work instructors, thirty health visitors and school nurses and thirteen
clinic nurses. Four of the health visitors are attached to the Chest Clinic but only
two were in post on the 31st December, 1968. Miss W. M. Thomas, Tuberculosis
Health Visitor, retired in November after serving at the Edmonton Chest Clinic for
fifteen years. She had previously served the Middlesex County Council at their
Ealing Chest Clinic from 1945, a total of twenty-three years service to the community
during which time great strides have been made in the field of prevention and
treatment of tuberculosis.
Miss G. E. Payne, who for many years had served the area as non-Medical
Supervisor of Midwives and Superintendent of Home Nursing Service, was due to
retire in December, 1967, but remained in post until the 31st March, 1968, in order
to assist the continuity of the service pending the appointment of a successor. We
were, however, unable to fill this position, so it was decided to discontinue the joint
appointment and to substitute principal officers in both branches of these services,
each with separate responsibility, by promoting the deputies. Miss Palmer was
appointed non-Medical Supervisor of Midwives and Mrs. M. Pickering was appointed
Superintendent of the Home Nursing Service. At the same time two new posts were
created of Senior Midwife and Senior Home Nurse which were filled by, respectively,
Mrs. M. J. Fitzjohn and Mrs. E. Maile. The year ended with nine unfilled posts
for midwives and two for home nurses. Two whole-time posts of nursing auxiliaries
were added to the establishment to assist generally with certain types of cases not
requiring the services of a home nurse.
Mrs. F. N. Galvin, speech therapist, left our service in May. Mrs. M. J. Holmes
was appointed in her stead and took up her duties in October.
Throughout the year no application was received for the vacant post of senior
physiotherapist/remedial gymnast, despite re-advertising.
Among the clerical and administrative staff there were no changes in the senior
posts but a number of young members left us for various reasons. Replacements
have been obtained including the appointment to the permanent staff of seven from
the annual pool of trainees appointed by the Council.
The most frequent staff replacements occurred among the manual workers. The
recruitment of a relatively high number of home helps, a total of 150.5 whole-time
equivalent, was achieved, at least in part, by a sustained and vigorous recruitment
drive.
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