London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

View report page

Richmond upon Thames 1971

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Richmond]

This page requires JavaScript

Maternity Liaison Committee
As Medical Officer of Health, I am a member of the Maternity Services Liaison
Committee Catchment Area IV, whose purpose is to discuss midwifery problems of
hospital, family doctors, and the local authority department.
HOME NURSING SERVICE
Home Nursing (Day)
The home nursing service provides nursing care for patients in their own homes or,
in the case of district nurses attached to family doctor practices, in the doctor's surgery.
The types of care given are indicated in the table of statistics shown below.
Home Nursing (Night)
In August 1971, the day home nursing service was extended to provide 24 hour
nursing care when a pilot night nursing service commenced. One state registered nurse
with district training is on duty from 7 p.m. to 8.30 a.m. She uses a special van provided
by the Council which is equipped for nursing needs and emergencies. A telephone
answering service is used to maintain contact. Part-time district nurse assistants cover
evening duties until 11 p.m. and early morning duties from 7 to 8.30 a.m. The night
nurse, in addition to her district nursing visits, acts in a supervisory and supportive role
to the district nurse assistants, and to the night sitters in who work with the district nurse
team to provide emergency all night care for any patient who is seriously ill and alone.
Night "Sitters-In" Service
This service, which commenced in 1967, provides assistance during the night for
emergency cases and has been absorbed into the night nursing service. The "sitters in"
now work under the supervision of the qualified district nurse on night duty.
Help is provided where either no relative or neighbour is immediately available or
where relief can be given to relatives who have been caring for chronically ill patients.
The service is normally limited to three nights per week, with a maximum of 12 nights
for any one patient. During 1971, help was given to 14 patients referred by family
doctors, district nurses, relatives or neighbours.

HOME NURSING SERVICE

Persons nursed and visits madeDayNight (Aug.-Dec.)Total
Total number of persons nursed3,1071063,213
Number of above over 65 years of age2,220802,300
Number of above under 5 years of age1313
Total number of visits108,4772,140110,617
Types of care given
Number of injections25,79833126,129
Number of dressings19,1314119,172
Number of visits for general nursing care29,8401,62731,467
Number of baths19,743119,744
Enemas4452447
Changing of pessaries167167
Washouts9691970
Attendance at minor operations22
Preparation for diagnostic investigation5757
Other15,51732015,837
Total number of treatments111,6692,323113,992