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The Hammersmith Hospital premature baby unit provides a special ambulance for premature babies
who require treatment in their unit. TTie ambulance, with two qualified nurses trained in the care of premature
babies, carries special equipment including a fitted cot and apparatus for administering oxygen. The ambulance
is sent for by the doctor who has been called for medical aid by a midwife. Three babies were admitted
to the unit during the year.
The number of visits made by midwives to mothers and babies discharged early from hospitals was
871.
HEALTH VISITING
The health visitor is the most important social worker for the care of expectant and nursing mothers
and young children. Under the National Health Service Act, 1946, her work has been extended to the whole
family for their health education and for the prevention, care and after-care of illness.
Health visitors attend with the assistant medical officers at maternity and child welfare clinics, and at
schools for medical inspections and routine hygiene inspections. During the year they gave school talks to
senior girls on mothercraft. These talks were much appreciated by the girls who showed interest and asked
many intelligent questions. Health visitors make enquiries for National Surveys and help in the practical training
of hospital student nurses, and student health visitors from Middlesex and Battersea Polytechnic who are
in training during the year (Table 52).
Health visitors work in close co-operation with general practitioners (Table 53), staffs of hospitals,
children's officers, welfare officers, public health inspectors and other social workers.
Some patients who attend Diabetic Clinics require advice to be given in their homes on their treatment,
diet and after-care. Health visitors who attend the Diabetic Clinics at the Central Middlesex Hospital
and Willesden General Hospitals give this advice under the supervision of the physician-in-charge. 37 visits
were made during the year to the 20 patients selected by the physician-in-charge for these health visitors.
The number of health visitors increased for the Willesden part of the area (Table 54) and temporary
clinic nurses have been employed to help at the clinic sessions and visit schools for medical inspections and
routine hygiene inspections.
The Middlesex County Council introduced a sponsored scheme for student health visitors in September,
1955. Students receive theoretical training at the Chiswick Polytechnic and their practical training in one
of the areas. They must remain with the County Council as health visitors for two years after they qualify. One
student who was sponsored for Willesden commenced her training in 1961 and will take her final examination
in 1962.
HOME NURSING
The Area Health Office is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Home Nursing Service
in Willesden.
The nurses are non-resident and the local medical practitioners and hospitals receive, from time to
time, an up-to-date list of their names, addresses and telephone numbers, so that direct contact with the nurses
can be made. In addition, three alternative telephone numbers are set out on the list which can be used for
emergency calls at week-ends and bank holidays, when the Area Health Office is closed.
Home nurses carry out treatment such as the general care of the acute and chronic sick, blanket baths
and injections for patients including children under 5 years of age and the aged and infirm. They also help
to train handicapped and disabled patients to get up and about again and they advise relatives on the care of
the aged in their families.
Home nurses made visits to their patients by arrangement with the family doctors. Some patients
are visited morning and evening, some once a day and others less frequently.
There has been a slight decrease in the number of new cases referred during the year, but an increase
in the number of visits made (Table 55). The total number of cases nursed during the year was 2,909.
Number of cases brought forward from 1960 642
Number of new cases 2,267
Total : 2,909
Number of patients recovered 1,644
Number of patients died 226
Number of patients admitted to hospital 431
Number of patients remaining on register at the
end of the year 608
Total: 2,909
The 2,909 cases were nursed for the following reasons:
Abscesses (including boils) 184
Amputation of leg 4
Anaemia 188
Arthritis 135
Bronchitis (including pleurisy and influenza) 472
Burns 17