General Practitioner's View of the Home Nursing Service

Abstract

A postal questionary concerned with possible developments in the home nursing service was sent to a random sample of 500 principals in general practice in Scotland in late February 1967 and was completed by 444 (89%). Only 13% of the respondents had a district nursing sister attached to their practice organization, but 70% of the remainder wanted this. The most frequently expected benefit was that she could undertake procedures at present performed by the doctor. Half the respondents thought that at present the district nursing sister did not use her professional training and skills fully. Most general practitioners agreed that a State-enrolled nurse, working under supervision, could do some of the jobs now performed by the district nursing sister.