[Report 1969] / Medical Officer of Health, Durham County Palatine / County Council.

  • Durham (England : County). Council.
Date:
1969
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1969] / Medical Officer of Health, Durham County Palatine / County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    27/124 (page 27)
    SECTION 25—HOME NURSING (i) Staff. Three Deputy Area Nursing Officers were appointed on 10th June. In addition to 92 whole-time district nurses on the staff at the end of 1969 there were 15 district nurse- midwives who spent approximately two thirds of their time on home nursing duties. A further 42 nurses were employed on relief work during the year. At the end of the year 82 nurses and 12 nurse-midwives were authorised car users. (ii) Cases. The total number of cases dealt with and visits paid by home nurses during 1969 showed little change from the previous year. Of the total case load 55% were over 65 years of age and this group received 63% of the visits paid. The “ Night Sitters ” service for cancer patients in the terminal stages of their illness continues with the financial support of the Marie Curie Memorial Foundation. Help has continued to be given in the form of grants of money for extra nourishment through the Foundation. Good liaison between nurses and general practitioners was maintained and there were more contacts with medical social workers in the care of patients discharged from hospitals. (iii) Courses and Training. Student nurses from Shotley Bridge General Hospital, Bishop Auckland General Hospital, Sedgefield General Hospital and Dryburn Hospital accompanied home nurses for observation visits on the district as a part of their training, and lectures on home nursing were given to them by senior nursing administrative staff. Six district nurses and two Deputy Area Nmrsing Officers were seconded to the training school at New- castle upon Tyne for district nursing training all of whom were successful in passing the examination. Five district nurses attended a Practical Work Instructor’s Course from 16th-27th June at the New- castle upon Tyne College of Commerce. Home nursing statistics are given in Table 6—Part III.