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Transfers to Hospital
The undermentioned patients booked for home confinements
were transferred to hospital:—
(a) during pregnancy 34
(b) during labour 4
All patients transferred to hospital during labour are accompanied
by a midwife unless the Emergency Obstetric Squad has been called.
HOME NURSING
General
An increasing number of requests throughout the year from
general practitioners, hospitals, patients and other relatives for nursing
care to be given at home, has resulted in even greater demands being
made on the home nursing service.
Although this increase has been for patients in the older age
range, this year has seen some alteration in the nature of nursing
treatment requested for other age groups. This trend is likely to
increase markedly over the next few years as hospitals are urged to
plan early discharges and as other medical and nursing staffs begin to
appreciate fully the technical skills and quality of care given by district
nursing sisters.
Staff
At the 31st December, 1970, the' staff consisted of: —
1 Superintendent of the Home Nursing Service.
1 Deputy Superintendent of the Home Nursing Service.
3 Senior district nurses.
22 Whole-time home nurses (female) — S.R.N, and District
Trained.
6 Whole-time home nurses (female) — S.R.N, (not District
Trained.
3 Whole-time home nurses (male) — S.R.N, and District
Trained.
2 Part-time home nurses, S.R.N.
5 Whole-time home nurses (female) — S.E.N, (not District
Trained).
10 Part-time nursing auxiliaries (female).
Organisation
Recruitment of staff has been maintained, but the lapse of time
between a resignation and the appointment of a suitable replacement
places great burdens on the remaining staff, particularly during periods
of staff sickness and annual leave. The value of the nursing auxiliaries,
who work under the supervision of the home nurse, bathing,
dressing, getting-up and putting to bed elderly patients who do not
require skilled nursing care, is immense. With an increase in establishment,
the number of visits made by them increased from 3,851
in 1969 to 7,567. In spite of this, the trained nurses still paid 7,017
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