View report page

2.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m., and it was considered that a change might
be made which would prove of benefit to the patients without
in any way interfering with their treatment or causing inconvenience
to the staff. It was decided to abandon visiting on
Wednesday afternoon, and instead to substitute evening visiting
on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for one hour; the
Sunday afternoon visit was preserved, though the hours were
adjusted. It was not possible to introduce these changes during
the year under review, but it was expected that they would
operate from an early date in 1947.
MEDICAL STAFF. D uring the year the resources of the
Hospital were surveyed, both in regard to staff and premises,
in the light of modern developments. It had long been realised
that the number of medical staff was inadequate to deal with
the work, and, furthermore, that their status was not comparable
with that of the medical staffs of other hospitals. It was
proposed that all patients in the Hospital should come under
the direction of one or more specialists, some of whom should
be whole-time and some part-time. A comprehensive report on
a proposed establishment was drawn up for submission to the
Health Committee, and it was hoped that some additional
appointments would be approved. An unexpected impetus was
given to these proposals when the Minister of Health, having
in mind the needs of ex-Service specialists, offered to pay the
remuneration of eight specialists at Whipps Cross Hospital,
until such time as it should be taken over under the new
National Health Service. The appointments for which approval
was given included two physicians, two surgeons, one ear, nose
and throat surgeon, one paediatrician, one pathologist, and one
orthopaedic surgeon. In some of these appointments it was
expected that the specialist would also be available to assist in
the health services of the Borough.
NURSING STAFF. A reference has already been made
to the shortage of nurses. During the year the average total of
nursing staff of all grades amounted to 320, made up as
follows: —
Administrative 7 Assistant Nurses 44
Tutorial 3 Student Nurses 200
Departmental 2
Ward Sisters 34 244
Staff Nurses 30
76
It can be seen from the above figures that approximately
75 per cent. of the total nurses are still in training, and that
the number of staff nurses is only one-third of the figure
considered necessary for effective nursing of the patients. From
time to time recommendations have been made on the appropriate
number of nurses required in hospitals of different types:
48