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TRAINING OF PUPIL MIDWIVES
45 Pupil Midwives undertook Part 2 training at The Lady Rayleigh Training Home and 42
were successful in the C.M.B. Examination. A further 21 pupils from Thorpe Coombe Maternity
Hospital undertook the district part of their training in the Borough.
Rather more than the usual proportion of pupils who presented themselves for training
during the later part of the year came from overseas and this placed a strain on the facilities
available for training.
On completion of training the overseas pupils are, for the most part, quickly absorbed into
the London Hospitals so that it would appear that their training is justified.
HOME NURSING
The service made every effort to adapt itself to the requirements of the Community and
there was increasing emphasis on rehabilitative care and the needs of patients nursed in their
own homes.
A follow-up service for elderly patients living alone was commenced during the year
(during the period under Essex County) as a project for the students and is still maintained for the
students as part of their training. It is hoped that it may be possible to maintain this service in
the future.
TRAINING OF STUDENT DISTRICT NURSES
The training of student district nurses for the National Certificate and the Certificate of
the Queen's Institute of District Nursing proceeded on a somewhat reduced scale and all the 44
students who entered for the Examination were successful.
17 students were trained for other Authorities after 1st April under the training facilities
offered by the Borough
INCONTINENCE PADS
In accordance with the wishes of the Minister of Health, as set out in his circular 14/63 of
the 19th July, 1963, the use of incontinence pads was introduced under Section 28 of the National
Health Service Act, 1946.
Pads are purchased in quantity and supplied direct to the District Training Homes where
they are issued at the discretion of the district nursing staff. Normally the district sister will
requisition pads to ensure greater comfort for incontinent patients and reduce the need for constant
changing of linen. Sisters find that quite apart from the benefit to patients and to those looking
after them, the pads are convenient and time saving, and make it possible to nurse at home some
patients who would otherwise have to be admitted to hospital.
During the period 1st April 1965 to 31st December 1965, pads issued by district sisters at
the rate of approximately 850 per month. There is a small supply issued through the sickroom
equipment scheme in special circumstances.
Rare emergencies have arisen because of difficulties with disposal of the pads but up to
the present time there is no real problem. The pads are adequately disposed of in domestic fires
or boilers or incinerators in gardens. The increase in the number of smokeless zones and the
increasing numbers of people being rehoused in modern properties without solid fuel heating will
present a problem which will have to be met in the very near future.
E. O'Connor
Superintendent of Home Nurses and
non-Medical Supervisor of Midwives
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