London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

View report page

West Ham 1945

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]

This page requires JavaScript

A further innovation was the establishment of a Food
Committee, comprising representatives of the various grades of
the hospital staff to act in an advisory capacity, and it was
possible to hold the first meeting of this Committee in the
autumn.
There were a number of staff changes during the year, the
most important of which was the resignation of Mr. O. R. M.
Kelly, F.R.C.S., Medical Superintendent, who intimated his
desire to retire from the Council's service on medical grounds
to the Health Committee Meeting of June 14th, 1945. Mr.
Kelly had twenty-three years' service at Whipps Cross Hospital,
and for some time acted as Deputy Medical Superintendent to
Dr. Muir, whom he succeeded as Medical Superintendent in
November, 1932. He was well-known to many people in the
Borough and enjoyed a wide reputation as a surgeon. The
strain of the war years had undoubtedly levied a toll on his
health, and it was with regret that his decision to retire was
received, as by his simplicity of manner and honesty of purpose
he had endeared himself to a wide circle. He was succeeded
by Mr. A. Norman Jones, F.R.C.S., Medical Superintendent of
the West Park (County) General Hospital, Macclesfield, who was
appointed on October 30th, 1945. It was hoped that Dr. Jones
would be able to take up his duties at an early date, but it soon
became evident that he would not be likely to join the staff
until some time in 1946.
The Medical Staff Committee continued to meet at monthly
intervals throughout the year, and there is no doubt it has
served a useful purpose in helping the Medical Superintendent
with practical advice on various points. The meetings have
been well attended by the resident staff, but it has not been
practicable for the Consultants to come as often as might be
desired, and it was evident that it might be necessary to change
the time and place of the meetings.
The Whipps Cross Hospital Medical Society continued its
meetings for the purposes of hearing lectures and addresses and
demonstrations of clinical work by the staff of the hospital.
The attendances were uniformly good; there is no doubt that
this Society is much appreciated by the doctors in the neighbourhood,
who feel that the meetings give them an opportunity of
keeping in touch with the latest developments in medicine and
surgery and also of making personal contact with members of
the hospital staff.
In common with other hospitals, the shortage of nurses and
domestics was acute and from time to time Matron had considerable
difficulty in providing an adequate staff for the wards.
A number of wards had to remain closed because of this shortage
and this in turn brought about overcrowding in those wards
which were open. In order to facilitate the recruitment of
nurses, a brochure with illustrations of the hospital and containing
details of a nurse's training were printed for circulation.
37