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2
The role of the health visitor has become increasingly that
of adviser to the whole family on the social aspects of disease, on
child development, and on the needs of the elderly.
More family doctors are becoming interested in the work of
the health visitor and other nursing and social services. During the
year three health visitors were linked to family doctors with mutual
benefit to the health visiting and the general practitioner services.
One midwife was attached to a group of family doctors although she
continued to share district duties. This attachment also proved to
be of value to both services.
An innovation in the district nursing service was the
appointment of the first nursing auxiliaries. These are unqualified
staff, often with some nursing experience, who receive in-service training
in order to undertake routine dressing and washing of patients under the
supervision of the district nurse.
Staff shortages in the Home Help Service continued to be a
problem, despite a reasonably successful recruitment campaign early in
the year.
There was no change in the Chiropody Service, but more people
received treatment than in the previous year.
The Mental Health Services continued as in 1965, but progress
was made as regards future planning. A site was earmarked at Blagdon
Road, New Maiden, for a new adult training centre and workshops, and
plans were prepared to extend the present training centre and an enlargement
of the special care unit.
As regards the Welfare Services, a small nursing home was
purchased outside of the borough for use as an old people's home, and
came into partial use by the end of the year. Plans were prepared for
the erection of a new home in the grounds of Coombe Oak and sites
earmarked for new old people's homes in the redevelopment areas of
Alpha Road, Kingston and Blagdon Road, New Maiden.
A kitchen for the Meals on Wheels service was established
in the old staff canteen at the rear of Surbiton Library as a matter
of urgency, as the private caterer who had been supplying meals in the
old Kingston area, closed down.
Recruitment of social welfare officers presented a serious
problem, and the number on the staff never at any time throughout
the year reached the authorised establishment. This placed a heavy