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training support to two colleges, Chiswick and the North Western
Polytechnics. Ten health visitor students were trained during the year.
Nursing officers are responsible for supervising practical work of
student health visitors during their three months practical work experience
taken at the end of the training year. Their final written report is evaluated
as part of the practical examination for the Health Visiting Certificate.
The training of fieldwork instructors involves a six weeks academic
course at a technical college followed by examination for the National
Certificate.
Twenty-nine pupil midwives completed their three months training in
the domiciliary field as part of their course for Part II of the examination
of the Central Midwives Board.
Two district nurses completed the District Nurse Training Course at
Chiswick Polytechnic during the year.
Further Training Courses and Refresher Courses
Every health visitor and midwife attends a refresher course once
every five years to get "up-to-date" with new trends in the work. During
the year, four health visitors and one midwife attended refresher courses.
The Chief Nursing Officer attended one week's course in management
appreciation for senior officers, which was arranged by the Borough at the
Harrow Technical College. Two health visitors undertook a year's
tuition part-time course and were successful in obtaining the City and
Guilds Teaching Certificate and one midwife attended a full-time course
and was successful in obtaining the Midwives Teaching Diploma.
All educational opportunities have proved to be well planned and
most helpful to the nursing staff.
Vaccination and Immunisation
The schedule of immunisation recommended by the Joint Committee
on Vaccination and Immunisation and in use since January 1968 was
used during the major part of the year. In August, the vaccination against
smallpox on the recommendation of the Joint Committee ceased to be
offered as a routine measure. The schedule now in use reads as follows:
Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis and oral Polio 1st dose at 3 months
2nd dose at 5 months
3rd dose at 9 months
Measles 13 months
Diphtheria/Tetanus and oral Polio 4½ years.