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32
Number included in line 9 who were visited at
the special request of a G.P. or hospital 41
Number of tuberculosis households visited 49
Number of households visited on account of other
infectious diseases 37
Number of tuberculous households visited by
tuberculosis visitor 669
HOME NURSING
Mrs. J. Symington, s.r.n., s.c.m., d.d.n.
Superintendent Home Nursing Service.
Under Section 25 of the National Health Service Act, 1946,
it is the duty of every Local Health Authority to make provision
in their area for securing the attendance of nurses on persons who
require nursing in their own homes.
The number of district nurses employed by the Borough is
40, and in the past year they paid 108,604 visits to 3,184 patients.
The prolonged periods of nursing care required by aged
persons, and terminal cases, make heavy demands on the service,
and it is gratifying to record the extremely valuable assistance
afforded by local Red Cross detachments. Their work is carried
out under the supervision of the district nursing staff.
The Marie Curie Memorial Foundation has been of great
assistance in the nursing of terminal cancer patients, by providing
additional nursing care, to lighten the burden falling on relatives
and the district nurses, and so enable patients to remain at home.
A group of general medical practitioners, engaged in a survey
of the aged and their care, has been helped by the secondment of
a district nurse on one half day each week to assist them in the
collection of pathological specimens.
Twelve nurses attended a course arranged by the Ministry of
Health, and all were successful in obtaining certificates for district
nursing.
RECUPERATIVE CARE
The demand for short recuperative holidays for persons who
have had an illness, or operative treatment, continues and advantage
has been taken to obtain accommodation at various Nursing and
Convalescent Homes in Kent and Sussex for periods usually of
two weeks. These holidays can be extended on medical recommendation.
In most cases there has been a considerable improvement
in the patient's condition and the service is appreciated.