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40
child birth. A need for such a service was expressed by the paediatrician
and it proved to be extremely useful and continued during the whole year.
Mothercraft classes were conducted at Bushey Maternity and Edgware
General Hospitals.
A liaison scheme was started at Harrow Hospital for the benefit of
the geriatric patients. A health visitor joined the medical team for ward
rounds and general liaison duties once a week. This has proved to be a
useful link between hospital patients and health staff in the community.
Case conferences have taken place in Edgware General and Northwick
Park Hospitals discussing problem cases; for example, battered babies,
admission to hospital and after-care in the community with support from
members of the health and social services departments, together with the
general practitioner concerned. All members of the community services
make their contribution to full family support.
A similar liaison scheme with Roxbourne Hospital linking the care
of the geriatric patient in hospital with care in the community, continued
for a further year.
A working relationship and personal contact between hospital and
health department is a most useful one for both sides leading to better
service to the patient and the whole family. To further this contact, study
days for nursing staff were arranged by Edgware General, Northwick
Park and Mount Vernon Hospitals. Joint attendance by hospital staff
and community nursing staff proves to be very useful providing as it
does opportunities for an exchange of views and a discussion on the
difficulties experienced by the domiciliary service as compared with
hospital service and vice versa.
Meetings between the principal tutors and the senior health visiting
staff have been arranged to discuss training schemes for students in the
community health fields.
Mothers Clubs
These clubs have continued to function during 1971. Kenmore
Clinic runs a very popular one where mothers and children enjoy the
well-organised programme. The club is managed by its own committee
and has a constant v/aiting list for new members. The club at Northolt
Road Clinic has proved to meet the needs of young mothers in the area
and continues to be most popular and well managed, supported by all the
nursing officers. Programmes are arranged by the mothers and organised
by their own committee. The third one at Caryl Thomas Clinic is well
established and very well supported by the mothers in the central Harrow
area. Most interesting programmes have been planned and a large number
of mothers are involved. One of the nursing officers has supported this
club from the beginning and the continuity of support has been most
useful.