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57
School Nursing Service - The work undertaken by the school nurse
has included preparation and attendances at routine medical and hygiene
inspections, certain home visits to parents including those required
for the follow up of defaulters from clinics. The discovering of
minor defects and verminous conditions before these develop into
natters of serious concern are the primary duties of the school nurse
and are intended to fill the gap in between the routine medical
inspections. Close contact between head teacher, class teacher and
school nurse is maintained at all times. A new commonsense attitude
of parents seeking the help and advice of the school nurse before
conditions have a chance to affect others, replaces the old antagonism
and feeling of parental guilt associated with infestation. In general
the trend of the school nurses work is more preventive in character
with opportunities for the school child to regard the school nurse as
a friend.
The duties of the full time school nurse at the School for the
Physically Handicapped can be regarded as an integral part of the life
of the school. She deals with minor ailments, attends medical
inspections, carries out treatment prescribed by the school medical
officer. She also visits the homes of the pupils where necessary and
takes part in out of school activities.
Section 25. HOME NURSING
During 1961 one Queen's student undertook her three months
district training. Four district nurses attended Refresher Courses,
and six public health students accompanied nurses on observation
visits.
A total of 62,536 visits were made during the year. This is a
decrease from the number made in the previous year owing to the
admission of elderly sick patients to hospital at an earlier stage
in the illness than formerly. Fewer visits to surgical patients were
required owing to advanced treatment by doctors, therefore more time
was spent by nurses in giving advice and help on social and domestic
problems to the aged sick.
During the year mechanical hoists were provided for four heavy,
helpless patients and these enabled relatives to operate necessary
lifting single handed.
Section 36. VACCINATION AND IMMUNISATION
Arrangements for vaccination against Poliomyelitis continued, as
in the previous year, to be available to all persons between the ages
of 6 months to 39 years plus certain groups who are at special risk
because of their occupation, together with their families.
Some interference with the programme of vaccination was experienced
because of shortages of Salk vaccine but on the whole a fairly satisfactory
number of primary vaccinations and reinforcing doses were
administered.