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12
HEALTH VISITING
The staff position improved as five sponsored students, who successfully completed a course of
training and obtained the Health Visitor's Certificate, were appointed to the established staff. Five more
sponsored students are attending the current course. At the end of 1969, there were 39 health visitors in post
covering 43 areas. Their work is varied and exacting. They attend all clinic and school health sessions, but
the majority of their time is spent giving advice and help to persons in their own homes.
First Effective Visits Total Effective Visits Total No. Access Total Visits as School Nurse
21,052 42,368 9,538 2,562
Schemes for attaching health visitors to general practitioners' surgeries are difficult to implement
owing to restricted staff and financial resources, but plans for attachment have remained a subject for discussion.
However, liaison schemes between general practitioners and health visitors have been encouraged
and arrangements were made for three more health visitors to have regular contact with general practitioners,
making a total of seven involved in such schemes.
Attachment to hospital Diabetic and Geriatric Units are well established and continue on an even
tenor despite changing personnel. Closer co-operation between local authority and hospital staffs continued with
sharing of study days in the hospitals. Two health visitors attended lectures and paediatric rounds at Kingsbury
Maternity Hospital.
Two health visitors attended a non-residential Refresher Course at St. Gabriel's College, London
University, one attended a non-residential Course at Chiswick Polytechnic, and one attended a residential
Course at St. Catherine's College, Liverpool. The Superintendent Health Visitor attended a follow-up weekend
Seminar on Management at Warwick University, and the Deputy attended a Course for Supervisors of
Child Minders at Chiswick Polytechnic.
DISTRICT NURSING
Under Section 25 of the National Health Service Act, 1946, it is the duty of every local health
authority to provide nurses for persons who require nursing in their own homes. The establishment of nurses
(48 plus two State Enrolled Nurses) was increased by one full-time male officer. The nurses work in close liaison
with general practitioners and hospital staff. Facilities have been given for senior student nurses in general
training to accompany the Council's nurses on their rounds.
Seven part-time bathing attendants are employed. They work under the close supervision of the
trained nurses, and attend the elderly and infirm patients who require semi-nursing care over a long period,
thus allowing the trained nurses to give more time to the acutely ill and surgical patients.
2,452 new patients were referred during the year, and the nurses paid a total of 120,944 visits to all
patients. 5,086 visits were paid by bathing attendants. At the end of the year, 1,374 cases were on the
register.
General Practitioner Attachments
Nine new attachments were started during the year making a total of 16 operating in the Borough.
The scheme works well to the satisfaction of the doctors and nurses, resulting in better community care for
the patients. 2,050 treatments were given in general practitioners' surgeries under the group attachment
schemes.
Training and Refresher Courses
Five nurses attended the District Nurse Training Course at Chiswick Polytechnic. They were all
successful and obtained the National Certificate of the Department of Health and Social Security.
One State Enrolled Nurse attended Chiswick Polytechnic for the special course in District Nurse
Training for State Enrolled Nurses working on the District.
Two nurses attended refresher courses to comply with the Department of Health and Social Security'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,
continued.
Marie Curie Memorial Foundation
Help is given by this Foundation to terminal cases of carcinoma nursed at home. Night nurses were
provided for 20 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. 76,250 pads were issued in 1969.
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.