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PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING AND
ALLIED SERVICES
Organisation
During 1970, the re-organisation of the nursing services, commenced
in 1969, has continued. Three Senior health visitors took
up their new posts at the beginning of the year, and three Senior
district nurses in the spring and summer. By the end of the year, it
had been possible to re-organise the Health Visiting Service in such
a way that the Senior health visitors were carrying out first-line
management duties as recommended by the Mayston Report on the
Management Structure of the Local Authority Nursing Services.
Vigorous attempts have been made to relieve health visitors and
home nurses of duties that do not require their skills. The appointment
of three clinic aides who undertake a variety of non-professional
duties proved to be an invaluable asset. They act as receptionists,
telephonists and clinic assistants, and give simple clerical assistance to
the health visitors. The increased establishment of nursing auxiliaries
has been more than overwhelmed by the increased demands for assistance
in bathing, washing and dressing elderly persons who do not
otherwise require the skilled attention of a trained nurse. The nursing
service is very conscious of the increasing needs of the elderly population
within the Borough. In addition, attendance by home nurses
and nursing auxiliaries and visits paid by health visitors to persons over
the age of 65 years, have almost doubled. Throughout the year, with
the need for adequate preparation for the future integrated health
service very much in mind, liaison with the hospitals adjacent to the
Borough has been developed.
Regular meetings of senior nursing staff have been held to discuss
nursing policy and training. Health visitors are attending certain
Paediatric Consultant Clinics, thus forming an important link between
hospital and community health services. District nurses have attended
study days with ward sisters, and midwives continue to be welcome,
with other students, in the Consultant Obstetric Units at St. Helier
and Nelson Hospitals. In return nursing officers and ward sisters
have visited the Borough to see at first hand the area to which they are
discharging patients and how the community services that they request
are functioning.
Plans are being prepared for extending this two-way visiting
between hospital and community nursing staffs, thus developing an
understanding of each other's skills and increasing the mutual trust
and co-operation that has commenced this year.
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