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35 cases with respiratory involvement, most of them very severe, were treated in the
poliomyelitis respiratory unit. Many of these patients were transferred from other
hospitals in the Region because they needed treatment with some of the special equipment
based here. In a number of instances it was necessary to send an ambulance with a
portable respirator and a member of our medical team to accompany the patient.
The facility now available, in the case of adult female patients requiring prolonged
physiotherapy treatment following their acute illness, of transfer to the Rehabilitation
Ward instead of to another hospital, has proved a great advantage to both patients and
staff in that a feeling of continuity of treatment in the same hospital is preserved.
A final comment, which may be of interest, is that several cases of diphtheria of a
serious type were admitted during the year, with one death.
Tuberculosis Unit
During the year 169 patients were admitted to the Tuberculosis Wards as compared
with 187 in 1955 and 146 in 1954. Most of the patients came from the Fulham area,
admitted through the Fulham Chest Clinic, The demand for beds has slowly decreased over
the past few years to the point where female patients requiring to enter hospital can
invariably be admitted immediately, and although the demand for male beds is greater,
patients rarely have to wait for more than a few days. The decrease in the demand for
female beds has made it possible to allocate a small number of beds for the treatment of
male patients suffering from non-tuberculous chest disease. (H)
The death rate for 1956 was 8% compared with 16% in 1955 a6nd 17% in 1954.
It is also now possible, by arrangement with the Clinic, to offer practitioners in
the area a bronchoscopic diagnostic service within a few days of application.
Rehabilitation Unit
The Rehabilitation Unit, which was opened in October 1955, has admitted just on 100
patients. All were females, of any age over 15 years and they included poliomyelitics,
hemiplegics. arthritics, bronchitics, and orthopaedic and fracture cases.
One patient died from an extraneous cause and four patients were transferred to
chronic sick units. The remainder of the cases were successfully rehabilitated to the
extent that every one could dress and feed herself, could walk and lead an independent
existence.
Co-ordinated by the Sister-in-Charge of the ward, every single act of the patient,
from awakening in the morning to retiring to sleep at night, has been regarded as an
essential treatment ranking in importance to orthodox physiotherapy. Where necessary,
instruction has been given in the ward kitchen in the preparation of meals.
Application of these principles has proved to be the means whereby patients, very
seriously incapacitated and (in some instances) regarded as permanently crippled, can be
restored to independence in spite of their handicaps and can be redeemed to live a life
in the light, rather than the shadow, of their pathology.
The experience so far gained has encouraged the hope that a male ward may be opened
soon.
NOTE: All the figures given in this report relate
to the Western Hospital and not to Fulham.