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for theseauxiliaries. The state enrolled nurses have been increased by 4. It is hoped to be
able to place one state enrolled practical nurse in each of the larger group practices.
Unfortunately the more recently trained S.E.N, is difficult to recruit for as yet many of them
remain in the hospital field. We have been able to offer district training to 3 state enrolled
nurses this year.
Following the closer links by nursing officers with Langthorne Hospital district
nursing sisters have been encouraged to contain the elderly sick patients in their own homes
for longer periods and in some cases have accepted an earlier transfer home due in some part
to the increased awareness and understanding in the hospital.
Health
Visitors
As in other areas throughout the country this service has become increasingly difficult
to maintain at full strength but those health visitors who are on our staff have worked hard to
cover the gaps caused by unfilled posts. All areas of health visiting have been successfully
maintained and in some areas new responsibilities have been accepted. There has been
participation in a variety of health education group work with some emphasis on the more
unusual. For example - Health education alongside keep-fit has been a very popular evening
group. Other centres have nutrition groups as well as parentcraft including a small following
of fathers, groups for deprived mothers, mothers of handicapped children - the latter being
joined by a social service colleague. Some school health education continues but is likely to
be increasingly the responsibility of clinic school nurses. Health Visitors continue to play an
important part in specialised and routine care of children during their early years as well as
assisting with pre-entry school Medical inspections in clinics. They continue to work with
children in clinics and take full responsibility for home visiting. The mobility and varied
nationalities living in some parts of the borough does require some intensive and in some
families prolonged home visiting. Close liaison with Whipps Cross Hospital in the paediatric
unit and in the midwifery field at Thorpe Coombe has been expanded. One health visitor now
visits special groups one afternoon each week for discussion of problems and to assist in
overcoming of language problems. Again a health visitor attends a family planning clinic one
evening a week in order to assist where there are language problems.
As the demands of the school health services have increased so the need for an
increase in the establishment of school nurses became obvious. We had insufficient staff
available to carry out the heavy programme of annual screening for visual and hearing defects
as well as continue to carry out a total health programme for each child. In order to do this the
school clinic nurse establishment was increased by I I to 36 in the latter part of the year.
This enables the schools for handicapped to have a more realistic school nursing establishment.
Clinic/School nurses are now able to take an active part in school health in every school and
are becoming increasingly aware of the need for health education amongst the younger children.
More time has been allocated to improving and maintaining good relationships with
hospital and social service colleagues. Discussions and talks of interest to all members of
the team have been organised successfully. Regular meetings of nurses and social service
colleagues are encouraged at all levels.
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