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convalescing patient who, in the opinion of the medical Superintendents,
would benefit by the change, should be transferred
there at the earliest possible opportunity, so long as the
hospital remains open.
Small-pox Hospital Accommodation.—The brick-hut
hospital for convalescing small-pox patients at Darenth, is
reported completed, and thus the Managers will have at their
disposal accommodation for the treatment of 1150 small-pox
patients, viz., 350 on board the hospital ships, 600 in the brickhut
hospital, and 200 in the Infirmary on the same site. A
few beds have been provided at all of the town hospitals, save
the Western, for small-pox patients too ill to be at once
removed to the ships. In view of the fact that for three years
small-pox has been practically non-existent in London
the Managers decided to abandon the idea of adapting a ward
at the Western Hospital for this purpose: "it may be
however, that provision for a few severe cases at this hospital
during epidemic periods will yet have to be made."
The Nursing Staff.—The Managers, it is stated, have resolved
to appoint Probationers as Nurses, and regulations with regard
to this new grade of officers have been approved and adopted.
A Sub-committee of the General Purposes Committee are considering
the question whether some means may not be devised,
whereby, on the closing of any of the hospitals, work may be
found for the most valuable members of the staff at such of the
other hospitals as remain open; and there is a question of
placing the Nursing Staff on a central footing, whereby the
Managers will be enabled to retain the services of such a body
of skilled nurses as, in times of epidemics, would form a
satisfactory working nucleus at any hospital which they might
suddenly be called to open.
The Managers have other and important duties—connected
with the training of pauper boys on the training ship "Exmouth"
(having accommodation for 600), and with the treatment of mental