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be done, the whole plant was subsequently changed over to function at this temperature.
In order to obtain information as to the condition of the water of the River
Thames into which the sewage effluents are discharged, samples of river water were
regularly examined, these being taken at various points between Teddington and
the sludge dumping area.
"Work in connection with the manurial use of sewage products was continued;
the main product was a compost of household refuse and sludge screenings, but one
of household refuse and sludge was also made. Close touch was kept with the
scientifically controlled tests of these materials which were continued during the year
on Mental Health Service farms in conjunction with the Agricultural Research
Council. The results were very encouraging from the manurial value aspect and,
particularly in view of the existing acute shortage of organic manures, the general
question of the production and use of such composts is being actively pursued."
HOSPITALS AND ANCILLARY SERVICES
General and special (other than mental) hospitals
The end of enemy action in this country, followed by the general cessation of
hostilities, changed the character of the problems facing the Council's hospitals
service. The evacuation of patients to the provinces had ceased in 1944 and the
reverse process had begun, but not until the year now under review did the return
flow reach its maximum dimensions and constitute a major administrative problem.
The demand for beds continued to rise but the extreme shortage of staff prevented
the utilisation of all the accommodation. Every effort was made to use the
hospital beds to the best advantage by as rapid a "turnover" of in-patients as was
consistent with their adequate treatment, by restricting admissions to those whose
need of hospital treatment was most pressing, and by the generous provision of
out-patient facilities for all capable of benefiting from them.
The year saw the first moves towards a restoration of hospital buildings. The
removal of blackout and brick protective structures made good progress and improved
the living conditions for patients and staff alike. Some progress was made
in the preparation of plans for structural repairs and developments.
Besides recording such matters as the foregoing, which arose out of war conditions,
the present report includes, in slightly more extensive form than has been
possible during the war years, some account of wartime achievements in residential
nurseries, clinical research, and other aspects of this branch of the service, but
conditions are not yet such that a full-scale survey of the part played by the hospitals
during the war is practicable.
Introduction
The return to London of evacuated hospital patients had begun at the end of
1944, and, even before any general return was authorised, a number of patients were
brought back from certain special hospital units. In May, 1945, women suffering
from pulmonary tuberculosis returned from Stannington Emergency Hospital,
Morpeth, to Grove Park Hospital; children suffering from orthopædic conditions
from Dryburn Emergency Hospital, Durham, to Queen Mary's Hospital for Children;
tuberculous children from Stannington Emergency Hospital, Morpeth, to High
Wood Hospital for Children; and children suffering from rheumatism and other
general medical conditions from Scotton Emergency Hospital, Knaresborough, to
Queen Mary's Hospital for Children. The Council expressed its high appreciation
of the kindness of the hospital authorities who had given such a warm welcome to
the patients evacuated from London.
When hostilities ceased in Europe, the Council, at the request of the Ministry
of Health, undertook the reception in London of hospital patients evacuated in 1940
and 1944 from all parts of the London civil defence region. A reception unit,
capable of receiving and dispersing 400 patients a week, was set up at the Western
Hospital, Fulham. Owing to staff shortage, only patients who had been evacuated
from the Council's hospitals were accepted in the first instance, but this restriction
Return of
evacuated
hospital
patients