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15
The suggestion was also made that the question of overcoming the difficulties
experienced in obtaining places in London medical schools for London students
should be considered, and the Council also intimated that any arrangements made
by it for medical education would, so far as the Council is concerned, be open equally
to men and women.
Radiotherapeutie
research unit
The radio-therapeutic research unit, which, prior to the outbreak of war was
situated at the Radium Institute, was transferred on 1st January, 1942, to Hammersmith
Hospital. This unit is carrying out, under the auspices of the Medical Research
Council, an investigation into the comparative curative effects of radium and X-rays
in the treatment of cancer of the mouth and throat.
Prevention of
tuberculosis
among
hospital staff
In October, 1941, a Committee of the department's staff was appointed to
consider and report as to further measures to be taken for the protection of the
Council's hospital staff against tuberculosis. As the result of the findings of this
Committee, arrangements were made for routine X-ray examinations to be carried
out on all new entrants to the service amongst nurses, ward orderlies and doctors,
and for re-examination annually up to 30 years of age.
Legacies to
hospitals
During the past year, nine legacies, making in total £2,403 11s. 8d., have been
received for the benefit of certain of the Council's hospitals, viz., Archway Hospital
(£25), Hackney Hospital (£266 1s. 8d.), Heatherwood Hospital (£500), Queen Mary's
Hospital, Sidcup (£25), St. Giles' Hospital (£387 10s. and £1,000), St. Mary Abbots
Hospital (£100), St. Mary, Islington, Hospital (£50), and St. Pancras Hospital (£50).
In accordance with the Council's policy, the larger sums have been invested and the
interest will be used for the benefit of the patients and staff of the hospitals
concerned.
Supply and
repair of
artificial
limbs
The arrangements with Queen Mary's (Roehampton) Hospital, for the supply
and repair of artificial limbs for Council patients, the "following-up" of patients
and provision of meals, where necessary, for patients and their escorts have been
continued.
In addition to patients referred from general and special hospitals, the district
medical service and the mental health services, the supply and repair of limbs to
children evacuated with the Council's camps for physically defective children has
been included in the scheme and arrangements are made through Queen Mary's
(Roehampton) Hospital for the children to attend the contractor's provincial limb
fitting centres.
The total number of patients dealt with from all these sources in 1942 was 229,
compared with 193 in 1941.
The Ministry of Health in November issued particulars of a new scheme under
which certain classes of civilians may obtain artificial limbs through the facilities
of the Ministry of Pensions' limb-fitting service at Roehampton. The question of
the patient's eligibility under the scheme rests with the Ministry of Labour and
a certificate is required from the head of the hospital concerned that the patient will
be able to follow a useful occupation when a limb has been supplied.
Staff
Despite the grave shortage of nursing staff throughout the country and the
gradual and continual withdrawal for national needs of experienced men and women
of all grades, the hospitals staff have, by working longer hours in some cases, by
more intensive application in others, and by cheerful acceptance generally of wartime
stress and strain, successfully carried out their task of providing treatment
for a substantial proportion of the sick population of the County of London.
The methods which were adopted to meet the shortage of staff arising from
wartime conditions, e.g., employment of women as substitutes for porters and
laundrymen, employment of married women and of staff generally beyond the normal