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There is, of course, great difficulty in assessing the ultimate benefit to seamen of a folder
of this kind, but it is gratifying to know that it has been well received by organisations primarily
concerned with social welfare. For instance, a Senior Officer of the Welfare Department of the
L.C.C. Wrote:
"Whilst I know that you had in mind a more comprehensive publication for which there
"was a real need, and, if I may be permitted a personal view, I rather think that this attractively
presented outline of the available "welfare" services with its homely approach to the
"subject is likely to be most useful and more than repay the time and labour spent on produc-
"ing it .
The National Citizens Advice Bureau Committee thought the folder was most valuable, as
did the Welfare Offficer of a Shipping Line. Again, the Admiralty Welfare Officer, in a letter
asking for some copies, remarked
"As such problems often arise among seamen serving in our Royal Fleet Auxiliaries, for
"whose welfare I am responsible, I feel that this pamphlet might be extremely useful in my
"work".
In the "Municipal Journal" for 15th August 1958, an appreciative comment appeared as
follows:—
"Helping the Seaman"
"Family problems originating with the absence of the father for long periods are most
"familiar in wartime, but they may also make demands on welfare authorities and voluntary
"bodies in peacetime. Recognising this, the Port of London Health Authority has issued
"a short, helpful pamphlet to give seamen information about where they can get advice on
"solving domestic problems of all kinds".
"Matters covered include financial aid; homelessness of wife and children; aged parents
"in need of care and attention; moral problems; need for "home helps'; need of hospital or
"doctor's services; and legal advice.
"This idea might well be copied by other port authorities and by councils whose populations
include a large proportion of families of men habitually away from home for long periods
"— servicemen, for instance. It could certainly do much to prevent what start as relatively
"minor troubles from developing into major disasters".
MEDICAL ASSISTANCE AFFORDED TO SHIPPING BY THE PORT HEALTH STAFF
The Boarding Medical Officers and indeed all the Port Health Staff are always willing to
afford medical assistance to shipping for "humanitarian", as opposed to strictly "quarantine",
purposes. Some examples of this are given below. The value in emergency of the radiotelephone
equipment on the Hulk "Hygeia" and the two launches at Gravesend is noteworthy.
Medical Cases—
(1) On the 6th June 1958, at the request of the Surgeon and Master of the s.s. "Duquesa", Dr.
J.A. Jones arranged for the removal of a female passenger suffering from a possible intestinal
obstruction.
The time was 16.35 hours and with high water at 16.53 hours the ship was running for tide.
In an attempt to expedite matters an accommodation ladder had been rigged. The "Alfred Roach"
was being used as holiday relief and, as the River was quite choppy", the Navigator was very
doubtful if his launch would hold at the gangway due to its position.
To ensure the safety of the patient Dr. Jones asked the Skipper of the tug in attendance to
'lie' at the gangway. The patient was then carried down the gangway in a Neil-Robertson
stretcher, on to the tug, and then repassed over to the "Alfred Roach".
(2) At 21.45 hours on the 17th June 1958 Dr. J.A. Jones received a request for assistance. Dr.
White law of Greenhithe had seen a patient in a ship anchored off White's Wharf, Greenhithe. He
had diagnosed peritonitis and arranged admission to Joyce Green Hospital. The difficulty was
getting the man ashore. Dr. Jones therefore arranged for the launch "Alfred Roach" to effect
the removal and the case was landed at Terrace Pier, Gravesend, there being no safe landing at
Greenhithe owing to the state of the tide.
Accident case - cabin cruiser "Clarinda". At 23.20 hours on the 19th October 1958, Dr. Dilwyn
T. Jones, Duty Boarding Medical Officer on the Hulk "Hygeia", received a telephone message
from Denton Hospital to the effect that a man in a yacht anchored near the hospital jetty had
injured him arm.
Dr. Jones at once proceeded in the "Howard Deighton" to the hospital jetty where he was
directed to the yacht which proved to be the "Clarinda", a cabin cruiser on passage from Torquay
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