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13
Training and Refresher Courses
Four nurses attended the District Nurse Training Course at Chiswick Polytechnic. They were all
successful and obtained the National Certificate of the Ministry of Health.
Two State Enrolled Nurses attended Chiswick Polytechnic for the special course in District Nurse
Training for State Enrolled Nurses working on the district.
Four nurses attended refresher courses to comply with the Ministry of Health's recommendation that
all home nurses should attend such courses every five years.
Disposable Equipment
The use of pre-sterilised and disposable equipment, which materially improves efficiency and safety,
was extended to include dressings, towels, as well as syringes, gloves, swabs and emergency dressing packs.
Marie Curie Memorial Foundation
Help is given by this Foundation to terminal cases of carcinoma nursed at home. Night nurses were
provided for 16 patients during the year, thus enabling relatives to have some rest during the most difficult
and trying periods. Two patients were provided with the loan of ripple beds (alternating pressure beds) by a
medical equipment firm on behalf of the Foundation.
INCONTINENCE PADS
Incontinence pads are provided by the Council free of charge to all incontinent patients who require
them, whether or not there is a Home Nurse in attendance. Requests for pads are received from General
Practitioners, Hospitals, Social Workers and others. 52,700 pads were issued in 1968.
When patients have difficulty in disposing of soiled pads in their homes, the Council arranges for
them to be collected and disposed of by incineration at the Greater London Council refuse disposal plant at
Alperton.
VACCINATION AND IMMUNISATION
On the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, the Minister of Health in
Circular 9/68 of the 19th March, 1968, asked Local Health Authorities to introduce routine measles vaccination
for children during the second year of life. Commencing in May, 2,771 children were vaccinated by the
end of the year.
Vaccination and immunisation of children against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, poliomyelitis,
smallpox and measles was undertaken by Assistant Medical Officers at the Council's Clinics and by
General Practitioners as set out in the following programme: —
During the first year of life Diphtheria /Tetanus/ whooping cough and oral
poliomyelitis vaccine (first dose)
Diphtheria/Tetanus/whooping cough and oral
poliomyelitis vaccine (second dose)
Diphtheria/Tetanus/whooping cough and oral
poliomyelitis vaccine (third dose)
During the second year of life Measles vaccination
Smallpox vaccination
At 5 years of age or school entry *Diphtheria/tetanus and oral poliomyelitis vaccine or
*Diphtheria/ tetanus/poliomyelitis vaccine
Smallpox re-vaccination
*re-inforcing immunisation
Under the above programme the numbers of children receiving immunisation and vaccination were
as follows: —
Smallpox Primary vaccination 2,924 (3,156)
Re-vaccination 380 (209)
Diphtheria/tetanus/whooping cough Primary immunisation 3,402 (5,639)
Re-inforcing 3,904 (3,256)
Poliomyelitis Primary Immunisation 3,870 (5,870)
Re-inforcing 2,893 (3,339)
Measles Primary vaccination 2,771 (—)
(Figures for 1967 in brackets)
RECUPERATIVE HOLIDAY HOMES
The authority is empowered as part of its powers in the prevention of illness, for care and after
care, under Section 28 of the National Health Service Act, 1946, to arrange the admission of patients recommended
by general practitioners, hospitals and clinics to recuperative homes, provided their medical condition
is such as to indicate that they require no form of medical or nursing care, are able to walk and dress unaided,
and fit to travel by normal public transport. The arrangements are intended for patients requiring a short
period of rest, fresh air and good food to complete their recovery from a recent illness or set-back in health.