View report page

PATIENTS. The figures for 1946 are similar to those for
the preceding year, except for a slight general increase. The
number of out-patients, however, has more than doubled—and
indeed this was only to be expected, as for some years it has
been known that the facilities for out-patients in this district
were inadequate. Throughout the year, of a total of 41 wards,
14 remained empty (representing approximately 400 beds).
These wards still remain empty, owing to a lack of sufficient
nursing and domestic staff, and, in this respect, "Whipps
Cross" had to face similar difficulties to other hospitals
throughout the country. Nevertheless, it will be seen from
the figures that it was possible to deal with 390 more patients,
and this was done without causing overcrowding in any of the
wards. Even at the busiest time of the year, the extra beds
which had to be put up did not exceed 10 per cent. over the
normal total for any given ward. It is believed that this
improvement was partly due to a change in the system of
admissions.
ADMISSIONS. It became evident that for some time the
sisters and nurses in the Receiving Ward had been burdened
with an excess of clerical work; moreover, it was no longer
possible for the Medical Superintendent to deal personally with
all requests for admission. In view of this, sanction was given
to the appointment of a casualty officer, departmental sister
and two clerks, the latter dealing in the first instance with all
requests for admission from outside doctors, relieving officers
and others. At the same time, the wards were surveyed in
order to ascertain the appropriate number of patients with
which the ward could deal, and an upper limit fixed of 10 per
cent. over the normal figure, which was not to be exceeded
except in special circumstances. In this way it was hoped
to preserve the classification, which previously had only been
maintained with difficulty.
From time to time during the year it was impossible to
admit certain cases, although they appeared suitable for admission.
An examination of the figures shows that 85 per cent.
of applications for admission were satisfied on the same day;
of the remainder, some were clearly unsuitable owing to the
nature of the disease or their place of residence, others were
admitted at a later date after their names had been placed on
the waiting-list. It is believed, generally speaking, that this
method of dealing with requests for admission has given
satisfactory results, although it is conceded that in certain
classes of cases there has been delay in securing admission:
this is particularly true of the chronic type of case. Nevertheless,
170 beds were set aside and occupied throughout the year
by these long-stay patients, forming approximately 25 per cent.
of the total accommodation in the Hospital.
VISITING HOURS. Since the opening of the Hospital,
the visiting hours had been on Wednesdays and Sundays, from
47