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is indeed a worthwhile undertaking if patients are able to spend their
last days of life in the comfort of their homes supported by their
relatives.
Many visitors were welcomed in the Health Department during
the year whose particular interest was the nursing services. Among
these were two senior nurses from Greece in March, a professional
adviser from the Council for the Training and Education of Health
Visitors in May and a nursing officer and administrative officer from
the Department of Health and Social Security in November.
HEALTH VISITING
Staff
As at 31st December, 1972, the staff consisted of:—
1 Principal Nursing Officer.
3 Nursing Officers.
27 Full-time health visitors.
4 Part-time health visitors.
1 Full-time specialist geriatric health visiter.
1 Full-time specialist chest diseases health visitor.
1 Full-time clinic school nurse.
9 Part-time clinic school nurses.
3 Full-time clinic a'des.
4 Health visitor students.
Eight health visitors left during 1972.
Introduction
It has not been possible this year to increase the number of
health visiting staff working with general practitioners in primary
health care teams. A greater number of staff are required to organise
work in this way, not only because of the large number of general
practitioners who have patients in the Borough, but because the
general practitioners soon appreciate the professional expertise of the
health visitor. Her work load thus increases steadily and it has become
apparent that to promote good health, prevent ill health and give
adequate health counselling to the patients on the list of two or three
doctors, more than one health visitor is required.
To illustrate this increase in work during the year, an additional
210 persons who were suffering from mental illness and 101 persons
with mental handicap, were visited by health visitors. These visits are
extremely time consuming, not only in their execution but in the
necessary discussions and follow-up action required when the visit
has taken place. 1,544 elderly persons were visited and supported by
health visitors during the year. This figure shows an increase of 350
on 1971. These are old persons not already receiving clinical care from
district nursing sisters.
It is essential that highly trained staff do not spend time in
undertaking duties that can well be done by a less qualified person.
With an increase in establishment this year it was possible to appoint
an additional four trained nurses. These nurses, who work part-time,
are very experienced, and the assistance they give to health visitors in
undertaking clinic and school duties is invaluable.
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