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1. Ships equipped to communicate with the Thames Navigation Service
The Thames Navigation Service came into operation on 1st May 1959, as forecast in last
year's report, and by the end of that month there were 72 "London" ships fitted with the radio
equipment necessary to use the service. The number increased steadily and by 31st December
1959 had reached 266 ships.
Out of the monthly average of 163 ships cleared by the Boarding Medical Officers there was
only an average of 13 ships equipped and this number did not show any significant increase as
the year progressed. From this it is apparent that, from the Port Health Authority point of view,
to some extent the "wrong" ships have been equipped. Amongst factors affecting this must be
frequency of their arrival in London and in other ports where the ships can use the equipment.
Thus, the Tanker Companies, who can use the equipment in the Persian Gulf and through the
Suez Canal, are well advanced in fitting but rarely trouble the Quarantine Service. However,
such information as is available points to a considerable increase in the fitting of "Port Health"
ships in 1960.
2. Radio-Telephones of the "Sister" Services
The Port Health Authority's own radio-telephone service between the Hulk "Hygeia", the
m.v. "Howard Deighton", the m.v. "Alfred Roach", and the Operations Room, has been in
service throughout the year and has proved of considerable value, especially to the Port Health
Inspector in the Lower River District. Direct communication between the m.v. "Howard Deighton"
and the Operations Room worked well whenever tested. This, used in conjunction with the radar
screen of the Thames Navigation Service, could be of great assistance in navigation should the
launch be under way in bad visibility.
It is understood that the Quarantine Launch of H.M. Customs is to be fitted with radiotelephone
operating on the same wavelength as that of the Hulk "Hygeia".
3. Access from the Port Health Office in the Thames Navigation Service Building to the launch.
This is at present, necessarily, from the Terrace Pier. Whilst no actual 'obstruction' to the
use of the Pier has been offered to the staff of the Port Health Authority, the Pier has heavy
traffic with the pilot cutters and tugs having prior official rights. Thus to embark on the boarding
launch may involve clambering over several tugs but they are always prepared to give way for
patients, usually emergencies, to be landed, particularly so as on several occasions the cases
have been their own.
Phase Two of the P.L.A. Scheme includes a new pier with direct access from the Thames
Navigation Service and a berth for the Boarding Launch of the Port Health Authority, but no date
for construction is yet known.
From this information it will be appreciated that the value of the improved communications
has so far been lafgely "domestic". In addition, during a time when the world incidence of
quarantinable disease, and indeed of all infectious disease, has been extremely low, it was only
to be expected that results would be largely of a negative value.
The following examples, however, may serve to give some indication of the potential of the
Service.
(a) 31st May 1959. The m.v. "Bloemfontein Castle" reported a case of Chickenpox. The
Boarding Medical Officer was able to obtain from the Ship's Surgeon direct information and
opinion confirming the diagnosis. However, had the diagnosis been in doubt, the Boarding
Medical Officer would have had four hours before the ship arrived in which to make any
necessary arrangements.
(b) 8th September 1959. The m.v. "Gothic", anchored in Gravesend Reach in dense fog, reported
a case of acute appendicitis. The Boarding Medical Officer arranged removal by the tug in
attendance which was fitted with Radar. Whilst this was being done, arrangements were
made for an ambulance to meet the tug and for admission to hospital.
(c) 17th October 1959. The m.v. "Durban Castle" and m.v. "Highland Monarch" both sent the
same Expected Time of Arrival. The Boarding Medical Offioer used the Thames Navigation
Service to enquire about the sickness so that he could, if necessary, concentrate on one
ship and request H.M. Customs to clear the other. Both ships were "all well" and again
there was nothing positive to show for the service.
(d) On numerous occasions the Operations Room has kept the Hulk "Hygeia" informed of the
exact position of ships and passed instructions to Masters to have the crew mustered. This
has on occasion saved a ship time at a critical state of the tide.
SECTION VH-SMALLPOX
1. Name of Isolation Hospital to which smallpox cases are sent from the district.
Long Reach Hospital is situated on the south bank of the River Thames about eight miles
above Gravesend. The hospital consists of 10 ward blocks capable of accommodating 170
patients but, except in cases of emergency, only three ward blocks (2 of 20 beds and 1, a cubicle
ward of 10 beds), total 50 beds, are kept available for immediate use. The hospital includes
residential quarters for the staff and a laundry, although the administration and staffing is carried
out from Joyce Green Hospital, Dartford.
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