View report page

54
During 1946, seventy new patients were referred under the scheme, and the
total number seen was 261, compared with 210 in 1945.
Hospital
libraries
The great value of libraries to patients in the Council s hospitals has long been
recognised, and this service has been mainly developed through the co-operation of
the Hospital Library of the British Red Cross Society, to which the Council makes
grants.
Through this service thousands of books, many of them valuable, have been
distributed to the hospital libraries; the Society have also procured the services of a
number of voluntary librarians.
At the Southern Hospital, which has a very large library, three full-time
librarians are employed by the Council, and paid librarians have also been appointed
at Joyce Green Hospital and Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup. The Council also
makes a grant to the British Red Cross Society in payment of the salaries of two
full-time librarians, who visit those hospitals which have difficulty in obtaining an
adequate supply of voluntary workers.
In addition to the libraries in the general hospitals, the British Red Cross Society
have organised an excellent circulating library for patients in the tuberculosis wards.
Under this scheme books are exchanged at regular intervals.
Picture
library
scheme
In May, 1946, a picture library scheme, inaugurated by the British Red Cross
Society, was introduced into certain hospitals and sanatoria catering for long-term
patients. The object of the scheme is to bring to patients who have to spend a long
time in hospitals interest that transcends the limitations of their surroundings. The
pictures, which consist of a number of reproductions and prints, are distributed by
the society's representatives and are changed periodically, usually once a month.
Arrangements are also made by the society for the occasional services of a lecturer
who talks in simple language about art and artists, some talks being illustrated by
reproductions. Artists' materials are provided for patients who express a desire
to draw or paint. The arrangements are much appreciated by the patients.
St. John's
Hospital,
Battersea:
clinic for
epileptics
An out-patient clinic was opened at St. John s Hospital on 23rd October, 1946,
to provide for epileptic persons who are not under regular treatment, and were unable
to retain employment for lack of suitable arrangements for their supervision and
after-care. Some of these persons had at one time or another been patients at St.
David's or St. Faith's Hospital or in voluntary establishments. Under the Disabled
Persons (Employment) Act, 1944, new opportunities of industrial employment became
available to such people, but the Council considered that some further provision was
required.
The function of the clinic is to give advice and treatment to epileptics referred
from any of the Council's establishments or by general practitioners. Guidance is
also given on working capacity and suitability for employment. Persons considered
fit to take and hold employment are referred to the appropriate employment exchange.
The clinic staff work in close co-operation with the local disablement rehabilitation
officers of the Ministry of Labour.
Medical
education
An important feature of the year was the series of post-graduate refresher
courses for medical officers released from H.M. Forces and panel practitioners under
the National Health Insurance scheme.
By arrangement with the Ministry of Health, through the agencies of the British
Post-Graduate Medical Federation and the Local Medical and Panel Committee for
the County of London, courses of lecture-demonstrations were organised at general
and fever hospitals grouped for administrative reasons in the north-west, north-east,
south-west and south-east areas of London, in addition to post-graduate instruction
at the British Post-Graduate Medical School located at Hammersmith Hospital.
Financial assistance is afforded by the Ministry of Health to officers released
from H.M. Forces, provided such doctors enrol and complete a course within 12
months of demobilization. Panel practit ioners are also assisted.