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36
the old people, who form a large proportion of the patients, during the period of
flying bomb and rocket attacks. The number of patients seen was 26,640 compared
with 30,366 in 1943. These patients made 100,992 attendances at medical
relief stations or doctors' private surgeries, and district medical officers paid 30,172
visits to patients in their homes. The comparable figures for 1943 were 122,694
attendances and 35,000 visits.
District
nursing
service
During the year the arrangements by which district nursing associations undertake
district nursing work as necessary on the Council's behalf were continued.
The nurses made 239,151 visits to patients of the district medical officers and to
other persons for whose nursing care the Council is responsible. Of these visits,
97,453 were to administer insulin to diabetic patients ; the remainder were for general
nursing. The comparable figure for 1943 was 247,255 visits (of which 104,548 were
insulin visits). The amount of annual grant paid by the Council to the Central
Council for District Nursing in London for distribution to the local associations was
increased, an additional payment being made in view of increased expenditure by
associations which resulted from the application of the Rushcliffe Committee's
proposals regarding salaries of nurses.
Voluntary
medical
assistance
Advantage continued to be taken ot the services ot a number ot senior medical
students and doctors of Allied nationalities who worked for short periods in the
Council's hospitals in a voluntary capacity in order to gain experience. In most
cases free residence in hospital was arranged in return for their services.
Accommodation
of nurses,
etc.
During the year accommodation in hospitals has been provided for short periods
for nurses from provincial hospitals attending courses of instruction in London.
Similar facilities have also been made available for a number of persons desirous of
obtaining experience of various special types of hospital work, e.g., hospital cookery.
Supply and
repair of
artificial
limbs
The arrangements with Queen Mary's, Roehampton, Hospital, for the supply
and repair of artificial limbs following amputation (including the provision of meals,
where necessary, for patients and their escorts) have been continued during the year.
The scheme first came into operation in 1932 and since that date an average
of about 200 applications have been referred annually to the hospital for this purpose.
Each applicant is seen by the limb-fitting surgeon on the occasion of his first attendance,
and, after fitting with a limb, arrangements are made, where necessary, for
admission to the hospital for instruction in walking, etc.
There can be no doubt that the scheme has proved a great success, and that
the patients have derived great benefit from the skill and experience of the staff of
the hospital. Great advances have been made in recent years in the application of
scientific knowledge and mechanical improvements to artificial limbs, with the
result that the modern limb may be worn without discomfort by any patient whose
stump is in a reasonably good condition.
The total number of applicants dealt with from all sources in 1944 was 177,
compared with 186 in 1943.
War work by
patients
It was found possible to secure tor some ot the patients at Queen Mary s Hospital,
Sidcup, and St. David's Hospital, Edmonton, interesting work, carried out in the
hospitals for firms of government contractors. From the total payments received
and placed in the hospitals' canteen funds, awards of savings stamps were made tc
individual working patients.
Works
The resumption during the year of air attacks by means of new weapons (flying
bombs and rockets) inflicted, in the latter half of the year, further damage, in some
cases extensive and serious, to hospital buildings. First-aid repairs and adaptations
were carried out as far as possible to enable services to continue, but the devastation
of residential property caused by these attacks was so widespread as to call for the
utmost possible diversion of labour and material to the repair of dwelling-houses.
The Council co-operated to that end by deciding in October that works to its own
buddings should, until further order, be limited to maintenance work and work
necessary to carry on essential services.