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13
1.—GENERAL PROVISION OF HEALTH SERVICES FOR
THE AREA.
(i) Public Health Officers of the Authority.
During this year, there were again several staff changes, which
is to be expected with an Establishment of the present size. For
the most part, they occurred amongst the members of the Day
Nursery Staff. In several instances it has been difficult to fill the
vacancies, and, in some cases, impossible e.g. with the Health
Visitors, which has placed an undue strain upon those remaining,
and a great deal of credit must be given to those who do remain for
the satisfactory condition of the work.
At the beginning of the year, Mrs. E. J. Bingham relinquished
her full-time duties as a Health Visitor, after 23 years of meritorious
service with the Council, but we were fortunate in being able to
retain her in a part-time capacity.
Particulars of the staff are given at the beginning of this report.
(ii) Laboratory Facilities.
The facilities are as indicated in my report for last year, without
any amendment.
(iii) Nursing in the Home.
(a) General Nursing.
There are in the area, 6 District Nurses, who devote their time
to domiciliary nursing. Three of these are provided by the Romford
District Nursing Association, two by the Collier Row District
Nursing Association, and one by the Havering District Nursing
Association.
During the year, the Collier Row District Nursing Association
suffered a grievous loss by the sudden death of Nurse Whitton,
whilst she was on duty. Nurse Whitton had given excellent service
for many years in the Collier Row area, and she will be sadly missed
by all her patients, who were also her friends.
Most of the District Nurses combine Midwifery with their
General Nursing.
(b) Midwives.
Our Establishment of Municipal Midwives remains at 8. One
resigned for domestic reasons, but we were fortunate in being able
to fill the vacancy.
All the Midwives are now trained in the administration of Gas
and Air Analgesia, and this is offered in every case. In this connection,
and to enable the Midwives to carry about the apparatus,
which is rather cumbersome, arrangements have been made with
the Essex County Council to provide each Midwife with a car, and,
pending the delivery of cars, the Midwives have been permitted to
use taxi-cabs for this purpose.