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24
Nursing equipment is made available on loan to patients being
nursed at home. The Middlesex Branch of the British Red Cross run this
loan of equipment service on behalf of the County Council. The Red
Cross depot in this area is at 39 Sheepcote Road, Harrow (Telephone No.
Harrow 8788).
Health Visiting.
During 1963 the area was again working with an establishment of
health visitors which was much understrength. It says a great deal for
these members of the staff who although working under difficulties
managed to carry out their clinical duties and also cope with the heavy
demands of social work in the homes in an exemplary manner. Three fulltime
and five part-time health visitors were appointed during the year,
but this was offset by the resignations of five full-time and two part-time
members of the staff. Reasons for resignation were in the main retirement
from service or moving away from the district. Two students were
appointed to the Sponsored Health Visitors Training Course. In this
course they attend for theoretical training at Chiswick Polytechnic and
come back to their parent area for practical instruction. We hope to
welcome them as fully qualified health visitors in July 1964.
The shortage of health visitors has been offset to some extent by
employing clinic nurses who can carry out some of the less specialised
duties in the clinics and schools and so allow the health visitors to carry
out their educational and social work in the home.
A liaison scheme between the Health Department and the Paediatric
Department of Edgware General Hospital has been established. A health
visitor pays periodic visits to Dr. Baber's wards and acts as a liaison
between hospital and the home in the complete rehabilitation of the
sick child. The scheme appears to be working well.
Work with the elderly has increased due to an increase in number of
requests from general practitioners and hospital almoners for supervisory
visits. Over one hundred such visits are recorded whereby a variety of
services and types of care were suggested and implemented for the old folk
concerned. By far the most important result of these visits is that a link
is forged between these elderly people and the various statutory and
voluntary bodies who can help each in their individual ways. In other
words a register is in the making which to my mind is fundamental to
carry out any programme of community welfare for the elderly, especially
for those who live alone.
During the year the Department helped in the important work ol
training members of allied professions. Approximately 70 students from
various training establishments attended for varying periods in order to
get an insight into the work of a local health department. I am sure both
staff and students found these visits to be mutually stimulating.