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32
Liaison with General Practitioners and Full Attachment to Group Practices
All Health Visitors in Harrow now have a working arrangement with
general practitioners either on a liaison scheme or in full attachment. This
varies from telephone communications to daily visits to surgeries, often
with weekly meetings, and/or child health clinics. Although more time is
taken up with travelling than in a geographically based area, this is
compensated by a deeper knowledge of the families concerned and better
communications between the people caring for these families. Increased
referrals by general practitioners of the various problems does tend to
curtail routine visiting, but the training and experience of the Health
Visitor are used more fully.
Liaison Schemes with Local Hospitals
A Nursing Officer has continued to attend the paediatric clinic and
visit the paediatric and maternity wards at Edgware General Hospital. She
attends case conferences, and is the liaison between Health Visitors and
Hospital Staff, e.g. paediatricians, psychiatrist, ward sister, social worker,
for the continuing care of children under supervision.
The liaison scheme with Kingsbury Maternity Hospital continued
until its closure on 31st March, 1972. Until then a Nursing Officer attended
the paediatric follow-up clinic as an adviser to the mothers at this clinic.
Health Visitors had continued to attend in a rota system for a series of
four weeks at the paediatric out-patient clinic held by Dr. Barrie from the
Charing Cross Hospital Group.
After the closure of Kingsbury Maternity Hospital, the Nursing
Officer started the liaison scheme at Northwick Park Hospital. She
attends there three times a week, visits the paediatric wards and attends
case conferences. She is the liaison between Health Visitors and Hospital
Staff: paediatricians, ward sisters and social workers.
The liaison scheme with Harrow Hospital has continued and
developed into a closer working relationship.
This working relationship and personal contact between Hospitals
and Local Authority Health departments continues to be a most useful
one and helps to maintain a better service for the patients.
Study days arranged by Edgware General, Mount Vernon, and
Northwick Park Hospitals have been attended by a number of Health
Visiting and Clinic Nursing Staff, and much appreciated. Some staff have
been able to attend Geriatric seminars held at Harrow Hospital also
Consultants lunch-time lectures held at Northwick Park Hospital.
Looking ahead to the re-organisation of the National Health Service,
it was felt that a better understanding of the work in Hospital and Community
would be helpful. From 2nd May, 1972, forty-two Health Visitors
and Clinic Nurses, in a rota system, attended Northwick Park Hospital
to observe wards, departments and visit the Clinical Research Centre.
Each member of staff spent three days in the Hospital. Ward Sisters have
started coming out into the community for three days each.