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but others not, while again there are many practitioners whose previous
experience in other fields enables them to give most helpful services,
although they possess no academic qualifications. A committee set
up to consider the supply and demand, training and qualifications of
certain medical auxiliaries in the National Health Service reported last
year. The Committee considered the training of medical auxiliaries
who were defined as persons who assist medical practitioners in the
investigation and treatment of disease by virtue of some special skill
acquired through a recognised course of training. The committee was
concerned about what training or qualifications should be possessed by
those medical auxiliaries who were to be employed in the National
Health Service, that is to say they were concerned about persons who
would be working under the direct or indirect supervision of a doctor.
For these the Committee recommended certain minimum periods of
training at recognised places and the obtaining of the appropriate qualification
after training. That these recommendations should be made in
respect of such persons working under these conditions points to the
desirability of the training and qualifications of those working on their
own and not under medical supervision at licensed premises being no less.
The committee, of course, was considering the matter from the point of
view of the employers of these auxiliaries. The Council is not in the same
position as it does not employ those in whose names the establishments
are licensed, nor are they responsible for the work carried out. Nevertheless,
that those licensed can, and of course do, make a point of
drawing attention to the fact that the premises are licensed by the local
authority, will suggest to prospective patients that the Council is satisfied
about all that is done there. To that extent the present position of
inability of the authority to lay down specified training or possession
of certain qualifications is unsatisfactory. As anyone aggrieved has a
right of appeal to the Court of Summary Jurisdiction an authority which
decides that certain standards of qualification or training must be possessed
by those treating persons at these premises, must have regard to
the views on the matter of those who would be hearing the appeal.
At the end of the year 24 premises were licensed. In addition,
certificates were lodged by registered members of the Chartered Society
of Physiotherapy in respect of six premises.
NURSING, MIDWIFERY, ETC., IN THE HOME
1. General Nursing.
Nursing of patients in their homes was formerly carried out by the
staff of a number of voluntary nursing associations. Of these, the largest
in this district was the Greater Harrow District Nursing Association.
The staff lived at and worked from two Homes in the district and met the
needs of most of the area. The Home Nursing Service as provided by the
County Council which assumed responsibility for it in July, 1948, continued
on much the same lines in the earlier days. Later, one of the local
associations was disbanded, and the staff of those associations housed
outside the district but some of whom had worked in this area withdrew
that help. For some time, then, the service was provided by the staff