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for the radiological department to be established at Hammersmith hospital in
connection with the British Postgraduate Medical School, the Council has approved
the creation of a position of full-time physicist to work primarily at Hammersmith
and Lambeth hospitals under the immediate direction of the director of the radiological
department at Hammersmith hospital. It was also thought desirable for
the physicist to have the assistance of an electro-medical technician in the research
laboratory and workshop to be established at Hammersmith hospital.
Scales of pay and conditions of appointment for these positions have been
approved. The scales of pay are as follows:—
Full-time physicist.—£750 a year, rising by annual increments of £50 to
£1,000 a year (no emoluments).
Electro-medical technician.—70s. a week, rising by annual increments of
5s. a week to 90s. a week, and thence after eight years' service in all in the
grade, if specially recommended, by annual increments of 5s. a week to
100s. a week.
The following statement shows the duties of the full-time physicist:—
(1) To keep X-ray instruments and tubes up to standard.
(2) To standardize new tubes or tubes that have been re-adjusted, and to
test quality and depth dose measurement.
(3) To measure the output of the X-ray tubes and to check the voltage
measurement.
(4) To measure the quality of the rays and to report observation on the
scattered radiation present in different parts of the department during working
hours, and to measure the depth dose.
(5) To carry out research work in regard to the Sieverts dosimeters.
(6) To carry out research work in the radiant heat and light department,
and to ascertain the quality of the rays given off and to measure the intensity
of the different wave lengths.
(7) To advise generally on all physical problems in connection with the
use of radium.
(8) To carry out any physical calculations or estimations required in connection
with the use of radium, and to advise and assist if necessary in the search
for lost radium.
In view of his unique experience at Lambeth hospital and elsewhere, the
services of the part-time physicist, to be displaced as the result of the appointment
of a full-time officer, are to be retained in a consultative capacity for a period of
six months in the first instance.
Consultant and specialist services.
In 1933, the Council reviewed the whole of its consultant and specialist services
and created a new service to meet the normal requirements of its hospitals. Particulars
of the scheme, which was to be subject to review at the end of a year,
appeared in the annual report of the Council for 1933, vol IV, part I, page 164.
The review took place in June, 1934, when the Council approved the continuance
of the existing arrangements, with certain additions and alterations, which are
summarised below.
The most important alteration made has been greater financial recognition of
emergency visits by consultants and specialists. A fee of £2 12s. 6d. a visit is now
paid for all emergency visits by consultants and specialists in excess of the number
of routine visits for which they are normally employed. Authority has been given
for the payment of a fee for each attendance by a consultant or specialist when
called upon to advise on special matters outside his normal duties, e.g., the provision
of specialised equipment, the establishment and management of special
units, etc.
The existing fee (34s. a session) paid to consulting anaesthetists for general
purposes has been found to be too low, and one panel of consulting anaesthetists has
been formed for all purposes at a fixed fee of two guineas a session, except as regards