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39
time it has been a Borough responsibility. The transition
took place smoothly and Miss L. Parish, who was Assistant
Superintendent, took over as Superintendent of Home Nursing.
Most of the home nurses live in their own homes and visit
their areas from there, but two are accommodated at Abury
House, where most of the requests for visits are telephoned in
by family doctors.
Well over half the patients attended were over the age of
65, as the following table shows:-
Total patients nursed — 2,396
Aged under 5 years — 65
Aged over 65 years — 1,435
Others — 896
Miss Parish reports:-
"1965 proved to be an eventful year with the merging of the
two Boroughs of Wanstead and Woodford and Ilford into the
London Borough of Fedbridge. This event has increased
both our staff numbers, and the area which we serve.
We now have a staff comprising 33 District Nursing Sisters
plus 3 Male Nurses. Included in the above are two part-time
Nurses, one of whom is now taking her Queens District Training.
Five Nurses have completed their training, and received
their Certificates during the past year.
Five other members of the staff have left, one due to
retirement, the others for domestic reasons. We .hank them
for services given, and wish them well in the future.
Three new members have been appointed during recent
months and have settled in well.
The type of work we are called upon to do today is changing.
Although the bulk of our work is still with people over 65,
the average age of the chronic sick person is now much lower.
Included among these are the multiple sclerosis groups,
sufferers from poliomyelitis and one who has had a broken
neck and most of these are between 30 and 40 years of age.
Our task of nursing them is made easier by the availability of
hoists, chairs, special beds, walking aids, etc., which are
obtainable from the Health and Welfare Department at Clements
Road."