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183
At Queen Mary's hospital, Sidcup, which accommodates convalescent patients,
a small unit has been formed to accommodate patients who are wholly or partly bedridden
by reason of some incurable disease or an accident in early life. The problem
of providing occupation and entertainment for patients of this class is a
difficult one, and the Council has now decided to appoint an officer to act in the
dual capacity of a handicraft instructor for such patients and a recreation officer
for the hospital generally. Entertainments are organised for the convalescent
patients including whist drives, concerts, cinema shows and billiard tournaments
during the winter months. In the summer such games as cricket and bowls
are also introduced. The appointment of the recreation officer will be for an
experimental period of one year in the first instance at a salary of £225 a year.
Recreation
officer.
With a view to improving the dietetic arrangements in the Hospitals, arrangements
were made for six selected nurses to undergo a one year course of training in
dietetics at King's College for Household and Social Science and the College of
Nursing. It was intended that these nurses on completion of training should be
employed as dietitians with remuneration ranging from £150 to £200 a year.
It was subsequently discovered that the diploma in dietetics granted at King's
College would be issued only to students who had completed a two years' course,
but the training received by the six nurses was of sufficient value to enable them
to carry out the supervisory work which it was originally intended to entrust
to them. It was, however, decided, that their designation should be "food supervisor,"
and that the salary applicable to the positions should be that prescribed for
trained housekeepers, which is slightly lower than that originally approved.
Dietitians.
Further consideration was given to the grading and classification of male
nursing staff, as the result of which the Council decided to revise the grading and
remuneration of male nurses in accordance with the following scheme, which
indicates the main outlines of the present conditions:—
Grade (non-resident). Weekly rate.
Head or charge nurse £4 12s. by 5s. to £5 12s.
„ „ (mental) £3 19s. by 5s. to £4 9s.
Staff nurse £3 12s. by 5s. to £4 12s.*
„ „ (mental) £2 19s. by 4s. to £3 7s.
Ward orderly, class 1 £2 17s. by 4s. to £3 5s.
„ „ „ II £2 12s. 6d. by 1s. to £2 16s. 6d.
Probationers—1st year £2 7s.
„ 2nd year £2 10s.
„ 3rd year £2 13s.
„ 4th year £2 16s.
* Staff nurses holding approved mental qualifications receive an additional 2s. a week when employed
on work requiring this special training.
Male nursing
staff.
In addition to the cash remuneration quoted, male nurses are provided with
meals when they are on duty and with uniform and the laundering thereof.
The radiological department of the new British Postgraduate Medical School
at Hammersmith hospital is to be a consultative centre for the whole of the
hospital service. The Council has created a position of director of the department
and consulting radiologist to the Council's hospitals. It was desirable to proceed
with the appointment in order that the officer's services might be available on
questions relating to the equipment and planning of the department.
Radiologist.
It was important that the holder of the position should be of outstanding
ability in this branch of the medical profession, as his opinion would be sought by
all the other consulting radiologists, and the Council appointed Mr. J. Duncan White,
M.B., Ch.B., D.M.R.E., radiologist to the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, and also
lecturer in radiology at the University of Edinburgh, to the position. The salary
has been fixed at £1,500 a year (no emoluments), and conditions of appointment
and service attaching to the position have been laid down.
In continuation of the practice of the late authority, a part-time physicist has
been employed as required at Lambeth hospital since 1st April, 1930, in connection
with the X-ray plant. Since the new X-ray department at this hospital came into
operation on 1st October, 1934, the work performed by the physicist has considerably
increased. As the services of a physicist would eventually be required
Physicist.