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182
had been in the service of the Fund for a continuous period of three years, to the
permanent staff of the Council with the remuneration in force for corresponding
grades in the Council's hospital service. The staff were accordingly transferred to
the Council's service and appointed to the permanent staff, subject to their passing
a medical examination. Those who were receiving rates of pay in excess of those
appropriate to the corresponding grades in the Council's classifications, and who
had at least three years' service on 1st October, 1934, will continue to receive their
present rates until 30th September, 1937, that is, the date of transfer originally
contemplated. Members of the staff with less than three years' service were placed
on the Council's scales. Those who were receiving rates lower than those approved
by the Council had their pay raised in accordance with the Council's scales.
The arrangements for the training of probationer nurses at the hospital have
been assimilated to those in the Council's service generally, and appropriate
transitional arrangements were made for those undergoing training at the time of
transfer.
The scale of salary approved for the positions of medical superintendent and
steward of the hospital are as follows:—
Medical superintendent £900 by £50 to £1,150 a year, with unfurnished
house or quarters and payment by the
Council of rates.
Steward £315 by £15 to £390 a year.
Supervisory
nursing
staff.
From time to time since 1930 the Council has found it necessary to increase
the number of nurses employed in the hospitals in order to bring the staffing arrangements
up to an adequate standard. In 1931 the Council approved increases in the
numbers of supervisory nursing staff, but in view of the general financial situation
further proposals of this character were not proceeded with.
A further revision of the supervisory nursing staff of the 27 acute general
hospitals recognised as training schools for nurses was carried out in 1934. The
Council was informed that in order to secure the standard of staffing at such hospitals
necessary for the nursing to be adequately performed and supervised and the
probationer nurses properly trained, it would be necessary to increase the staff by
one position of sister housekeeper, nine of administrative sister and ninety-five of
ward sister. The addition of these 105 positions was considered to be adequate for
normal requirements, but in order to ensure that, at each of the larger hospitals,
one ward sister not normally allocated to definite duties should be available in
cases of sickness or other emergencies, either at her own or at one of the smaller
hospitals, a further addition of 20 positions of ward sister was found to be necessary;
these last-mentioned positions are allocated normally to hospitals with a bed
accommodation of 500 or over, but are available for temporary transfer elsewhere
when necessary.
White Oak
hospital—
Medical staff.
The medical staff at White Oak hospital (for children suffering from ophthalmia)
consisted of a visiting assistant medical officer, who visited for two consecutive
hours on four days a week, and received a salary of £250 a year and travelling
expenses. This staff was found to be insufficient and had to be supplemented by
the services of a local private practitioner. On the death of the visiting medical
officer the staffing arrangements were reconsidered, and it was decided to associate
the hospital with High Wood hospital so far as the eye work was concerned. A
resident woman medical officer on a part-time basis was appointed at White Oak,
with the duty of acting also as visiting oculist at High Wood hospital. The salary
attached to the position is £200 a year with residential emoluments at White Oak,
and travelling expenses in connection with visits to High Wood hospital.
Psychiatric
social
workers.
The appointment of psychiatric social workers at hospitals where a number of
mental patients are dealt with was found to have beneficial results. In view of
the value of the work carried out by these officers, it was decided in 1934 to appoint
a similar officer to the centralised mental unit in west London, conducted at Fulham
hospital and Westminster institution, where female and male cases, respectively,
are treated. The officer appointed divides her time between the male and female
units as necessary.