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CO-OPERATION OF THE THAMES NAVIGATION SERVICE IN PORT HEALTH WORK
At 22.30 hours on the 17th April 1961, Dr. P.J. Roden received information via the Thames
Navigation Service that the s.s. "Athenic", due to arrive in Gravesend Reach at 03.00 hours on
the 18th April from New Plymouth, had an injured seaman on board and that arrangements had
already been made for him to be transferred to hospital by ambulance when the vessel reached
the Royal Albert Dock.
As no other cases of sickness were reported on board, H.M. Customs were asked to give the
ship free pratique at once in order not to delay the passage of the ship up the River.
This incident again demonstrates the value of V.H.F. radio and the active assistance of the
Thames Navigation Service.
DENTON HOSPITAL
Although Denton Hospital has been taken over by the South East Metropolitan Regional Hospital
Board under the National Health Services Act, the Port Health Authority continues to exercise,
through Dr. H.M. Vvilloughby, the Deputy Medical Officer, and the Assistant Port Medical
Officers, the medical supervision of cases admitted to the hospital. The nursing and administrative
control lies with the Dartford Hospital Management Committee.
Consultant advice on difficult cases is available through Dr.J. Pickford Marsden, PhysicianSuperintendent
of Joyce Green Hospital, Dartford, who whenever necessary transfers cases there
for special investigation and treatment.
The number of cases admitted to Denton Hospital in 1961 was as follows:—
Acne 1
Amoebic Dysentery 2
Chickenpox 19
Chickenpox Contacts 1
Fever of Unknown Origin 2
Infective Hepatitis 3
Influenza 3
Inguinal Adenitis 1
Malaria 2
Measles 10
Measles Contacts 1
Mumps 5
Pneumonia 1
Tonsilitis 4
Tuberculosis, Pulmonary 1
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SECTION VII - 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.
2. Arrangements for transport of such cases to that hospital by ambulance giving the name of
the Authority responsible for the ambulance and the vaccinal state of the ambulance crews.
A case or cases of smallpox would be removed from the vessel by this Authority's Ambulance
launch and conveyed ashore via the pontoon at Denton and from thence conveyed by road ambulance
direct to Long Reach Hospital.
The Port Health Authority would be responsible for the vaccinal state of their Ambulance
Launch crews, while the vaccinal state of the Road Ambulance personnel would be the concern
of the South-East Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board under whose jurisdiction both Joyce
Green and Long Reach Hospitals fall.
3. Names of smallpox consultants available.
Dr. J.V. Armstrong Dr. H.S. Banks Dr. W.T.G. Boul
Dr. W.J. Coughlan Dr. J.P. Marsden
4. Facilities for laboratory diagnosis of smallpox.
Facilities are available at the Virus Laboratory at the Central Public Health Laboratory
at Colindale.
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