The Children’s Liaison Health Visiting Team based in Mayday Hospital and set up in 1994 consists of two liaison health visitors job sharing and a clerk, a valuable and essential member of the team.

The team aims to liaise with hospital and community staff and other agencies, to raise staff awareness of the needs of children and provide advice and support to the Accident and Emergency Department, Rupert Bear Ward, Outpatient Department, Antenatal Clinic and Special Care Baby Unit. The team also identifies children in need and child protection issues ensuring timely and comprehensive information is liaised to social services.

Monday morning begins by collecting computer printouts, and A & E cards, detailing all the children from birth to 16 years who have attended A & E between Friday and Sunday. Numbers can fluctuate between 150-200. These cards are individually read to ascertain which children need to be telephoned out for early follow ups. All children 0-5 years are liaised to the health visitor by letter with the liaison of children 6-16 years carried out on a priority basis according to the history.

As the A & E cards are read, a case of ? non-accidental injury concerning a pre-school child is found. The information is liaised to the health visitor, social services, Briony Ladbury, Child Protection Advisor and Dr F Davids. The actions are recorded for future reference and hopefully the child has been admitted to the ward for further investigations.

While reading the cards, a paediatric emergency arrives in the Resuscitation area and after comforting the parents and ensuring they are aware of what is happening to their child, the health visitor is informed of the problem and the outcome.

Following the challenge of A & E with its sometimes unpredictable but interesting cases, it’s off to Rupert Bear Ward, a paediatric ward of twenty beds and four cubicles. Admission forms from the children admitted over the previous 24 hours are collected, recorded and kept until discharge. The average stay on the ward is 2.2 days, so there is a fairly rapid turnover. All discharges are also recorded and liaised to the relevant health visitor or school nurse.

One of the consultants approaches wanting to know some background information and the home environment of a child who is failure to thrive. After a discussion with the health visitor, the information is relayed to the consultant. After a discussion with the multi-disciplinary team, it is decided to refer the child to social services.

A quick call to the KIM Unit to ensure all the children have attended, which they have, and it’s off to the Special Care Baby Unit. Before recording the new admissions and discharges, the sister asks if you can talk to a mother about the support available in the community as she is anxious about taking her pre-term baby home. An ideal opportunity to discuss the role of health visitors and the support they can offer.

Timely liaison is an essential part of the job, so the later part of the day entails liaison by telephone, memo or both to the health visitor and school nurses throughout the country. Another challenging, tiring and satisfactory day ends all to start again tomorrow with who knows what.

GPs and staff may remember that the mobile was previously sited at the Co-Op car park at West Croydon. However, the Co-Op closed down and it was necessary to find an alternative site, hence Mayday. For those of you who know the site, the mobile is sited close to the Willows and the old Nurses Home, with access via the London Road entrance or the London Road car park.

Women from twenty-seven GP practices will be invited for screening at this site, and will include Practices from Thornton Heath, Central Croydon, South Norwood and Shirley. Many Practices will already have received lists from the Health Authority for checking.

As in previous screening rounds:

Women 50-64 will automatically be invited for screening.

Women 65+ need to contact the screening office for an appointment and should be encouraged to do so.

Women under 50 Screening is not available as it has not yet been shown to benefit younger women.

Women with Symptoms These women should see their GP and be referred in the normal way to the local Breast Clinic and not for screening.

The Breast Care Nurses Eve Smith and Sarah Lea will offer a pre-screening visit to all Practices. The visits lasting less than an hour will provide a brief update on screening issues and give staff an opportunity to ask questions, to look at screening attendance rates for the practice, and to discuss practice policy regarding screening non-attenders.

Any immediate queries should be directed to the Screening Office on 0181 725 2723, or to Eve Smith, Breast Care Nurse on 0181 725 2726.

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On many occasions when reviewing a book or an article on coronary heart disease, I have retired to bed intending to read for an hour or so only to discover several hours later that I have fallen asleep after a couple of pages. This was not the case with Stop that heart attack. I found myself wide awake at 3am and unable to put the book down.

The book is eminently readable, written in a friendly manner, easily understood by both the health professional and the lay person. Helpful hints abound alongside the facts and figures and the reader feels they could well be in control of their future health without being reduced to a level of starvation, boredom or teatotalism. Action points and summary boxes make it easy to refer to without having to re-read the whole chapter. One feels attainable goals which will help to lead easily to a healthier lifestyle are being given, guided along by an old friend – there’s no lecturing about bad habits that will lead to early death, for example.

My only negative thought was that most people reading this book with such fervour would probably be trying to prevent a second heart attack rather than stop the first. This book should be compulsory reading at an early age. Even those unlikely to experience coronary heart disease can benefit from the advice in this book to achieve an active, healthy and longer life. After all, even the cynics of this world need a little bit of insurance!

on 26 February 1999

A group of LMC members, along with the Chairman, visited the Mayday Paediatric Department and had an informal meeting followed by a tour of the department.

It brought back nostalgic memories for many of us who have worked at Mayday. However, the department has expanded over the years. It now comprises of five Consultants with full complement of junior staff supported by external visiting Consultants offering cardiology, neurology, endocrinology, HIV and surgical Out Patient clinic once every few months with facilities for tertiary referrals.

The highlight of the visit was the neonatal intensive care unit made up of four intensive care cots, four high dependency cots and twenty special care cots.

The tour ended in the Fast Track Out-Patient clinic which is Registrar-led. In conclusion, following our discussion on many aspects of the service, the general consensus was that serious consideration should be given to creating a sixth Consultant Paediatrician to cover the Fast Track clinic, Hospital for children at home and A & E department.

We are seeking an enthusiastic and experienced family planning nurse for a new and challenging post. The successful candidate will be an instructing nurse, who will be responsible for management and clinical leadership of the nurses and clinical staff, and the administration of the family planning service. This will ensure delivery of a high quality, effective service that helps to meet the health needs of the population. This is a post where you can use and develop your skills, co-ordinating a diverse department operating from five sites with 35 part-time staff. You will demonstrate ability to communicate well, and build on existing work involving nurses and clerical staff. You will work closely with the lead doctor who has overall responsibility for the service.

If you wish to find out more, please contact Dr Alyson Elliman on 0181 684 2085 or Christine Driscoll, Organisational Development Facilitator on 0181 680-2008 ext 269.
Closing Date: 6 April 1999 Interview date: 20/21 April 1999

Family Planning Nurse, Grade E/F – Ref: N744
Broad Green Centre – Friday mornings 9am – 12 noon

A family planning nurse is required to cover this two doctor session working with an experienced instructing nurse.

Qualifications required are ENB901 (E grade) and ENB998 or equivalent would be welcomed (F grade). The post becomes vacant on 1 April 1999.

For informal enquiries please contact Dr Alyson Elliman or Fran Reid at Broad Green Centre on 0181 684 2085.

Committed to Equal Opportunities

Part-time receptionists (two) required: one for 14 hrs and one for 12 hrs per week.

Computer operator/administrator required part-time for 12 hrs per week.

Practice Nurse part-time required for 9 to 12 hrs per week.

Please apply with CV to Practice Manager, Beddington Medical Centre, 172 Croydon Road, Beddington, Surrey, CR0 4PG. Tel No: 0181 688 8486.

Experienced Practice Nurse required part time to work 25 hours per week. Hours preferred five mornings and two evenings. F/G Grade according to experience and qualifications. Successful applicant will be able to provide a wide range of clinical abilities. Enthusiasm essential and professional development encouraged. Position available from 1/5/99. For application please apply in writing with accompanying C.V. to Ms Kathy Coughlan, Practice Manager, Fairview Medical Centre, 69 Fairview Road, Norbury, SW16 5PX.

Relief Receptionist/s Required end of May for three plus weeks. 8:30am – 5:00pm. Monday to Friday. Usual duties. GenPrac. system. Cross-training available. Please contact Louise at London Road Medical Centre. Telephone 0181 239 9002.

Available for Locum. Dr N Bankole, 43 Harold Road, Crystal Palace, London SE19. Telephone 09757-398333.