London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Willesden 1954
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Willesden]
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43
HOME NURSING
On 30th June, 1954, the arrangements for administering the Willesden District Nursing Association
Home Nursing Service for the County Council ceased; since 1st July, 1954, the Area Health Office has
been responsible for the day-to-day administration.
Before 1st July the nurses were resident in a nurses' home, but since 1st July they are non-resident
and may be telephoned in their own homes for calls.
The County Council has organised a district nurse training home for female candidates at 17 and
19, Park Avenue, Willesden, formerly used by the Association as a nurses training home. The candidates
assist the home nurses in Willesden and gain experience in home nursing; they are included in the establishment
of home nurses, and some are recruited into the service when they have finished their course.
The home nurses work in close co-operation with general practitioners, who make the majority of
the requests for home nursing care for their patients; many London hospitals also apply for home nursing
care. The home nurses give various injections, general attention and care to medical and surgical cases,
and nursing care to the aged and infirm. They exercise much common sense and ingenuity as well as nursing
skill.
Home Nurses Establishment
| Nurses | As at 1.7.54 | As at 31.12.54 |
|---|---|---|
| Whole time | 18 | 19 |
| Part time | 5 | 7 |
| Candidates | 7 | 6 |
| Total whole time equivalent | 241 | 26 |
Work of Home Nurses
| No. of New Cases | Total No of home visits paid | No. of cases on register at end of year | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | Female | Male | Female | ||
| Medical | 1,412 | 2,038 | 96,625 | 353 | 667 |
| Surgical | 258 | 320 | 15,471 | 56 | 87 |
| Infectious diseases | 12 | 13 | 126 | 1 | 2 |
| Tuberculosis | 65 | 44 | 5,249 | 12 | 16 |
| Maternal complications | — | 73 | 809 | — | 10 |
| Others | — | — | — | — | —- |
| Total | 1,747 | 2,488 | 422 | 782 | |
| Totals : 1954 | 4,235 | 118,280 | 1,204 | ||
| 1953 | 5,046 | 121,192 | 651 | ||
SMALLPOX VACCINATION
Some vaccinations are done by the staff at the health clinics, but most of them are carried out by general practitioners. The number of children under 1 year of age vaccinated, represents 39.2% of the total live births for the year.
| Under 1 year | 1 year | 2-4 years | 5-14 years | 15 years and over | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of persons primarily vaccinated | 1,022 | 82 | 40 | 54 | 118 | 1,316 |
| No. of persons re-vaccinated | 9 | 2 | 8 | 36 | 359 | 414 |
| Totals : 1954 | 1,031 | 84 | 48 | 90 | 477 | 1,730 |
| 1953 | 891 | 83 | 55 | 74 | 425 | 1,528 |
Approximate number of children (end of 1954) 0— 5 13,168
5—15 23,857
37,025