Lady Superintendent reports NHNN/N/1
E. C.Vernet – reports from 14 October 1902 to 24 October 1905
‘There are 27 Waterbeds belonging to the Hospital of these 4 are reported beyond repair. I therefore venture to ask if they may be replaced by 2 full length at £6.10.- each, and 2 of ¾ length at about £4. each.
‘I also beg to present a statement of the usual expenditure incurred here for Christmas presents for patients and Ward Teas, which has been generally met by voluntary contributions to the extent of about two thirds of this total amount.’
Board of Management Minutes: Jan 1902 – Dec 1907 NHNN/A/4/6
In respect of the Christmas Festivities for 1902 it was resolved that the practice of collecting funds from individuals for Christmas presents etc. be discontinued, but that expenditure be authorised necessary for providing a Christmas Tree, with toys for the Children’s Ward, and that ward teas and Christmas presents for the Nursing Staff, as formerly, be allowed. This arrangement to apply to both Queen Square and Finchley.
Medical Committee Minutes Jan 1900 – Nov 1912 NHNN/A/9/2
Regarding the question of the admission of women to the practice of the hospital – the secretary laid on the table a summary of the answers he had received to the enquiries he had made as to the individual opinions of the staff.
A motion previously circulated was proposed by Sir William Gowers and seconded by Dr Tooth, to be of the effect that to their previous resolution of Oct 23 1903 be added the words:
a. “To the inpatient practice whenever such admission is approved unanimously by the physicians for the inpatients, and to the outpatient practice whenever such admission is approved unanimously by the physicians for outpatients.” b. An amendment (previously circulated) was then proposed by Dr Ormerod and seconded by Dr Turner, viz. “That the medical committee having ascertained the opinion of the members individually, desires to qualify its resolution of Oct 23 1903, and to recommend that women be admitted to the lectures only.” This amendment was carried, by 7 votes against 2. c. The amendment having been put as a substantive motion, an amendment was moved to it by Sir Victor Horsley and seconded by Dr Batten as follows: “That, in view of the fact that women have a legal right to study and practice medicine, the opportunities of study in the hospital should be as open to women as to male students.” This amendment was lost by 2 votes for it, 8 against it.
a. “To the inpatient practice whenever such admission is approved unanimously by the physicians for the inpatients, and to the outpatient practice whenever such admission is approved unanimously by the physicians for outpatients.”
b. An amendment (previously circulated) was then proposed by Dr Ormerod and seconded by Dr Turner, viz. “That the medical committee having ascertained the opinion of the members individually, desires to qualify its resolution of Oct 23 1903, and to recommend that women be admitted to the lectures only.” This amendment was carried, by 7 votes against 2.
c. The amendment having been put as a substantive motion, an amendment was moved to it by Sir Victor Horsley and seconded by Dr Batten as follows: “That, in view of the fact that women have a legal right to study and practice medicine, the opportunities of study in the hospital should be as open to women as to male students.” This amendment was lost by 2 votes for it, 8 against it.
Resolution b was then voted upon and carried (by 8 votes to 2).
It has come to the notice of the physician to outpatients and assistant physician that certain patients suffering from epilepsy have ceased to attend regularly and have suffered as a consequence from a recurrence of fits.
This irregularity in attendance has arisen from the belief on the part of the patients that they were unable to obtain medicine unless they were able to pay their usual contributions.
The subcommittee point out that the outpatient department at the National Hospital differs from those at most hospitals on account of the chronic nature of their maladies, and the necessity, especially in the case of epilepsy, for the prolonged and regular use of remedies. Any interruption of the treatment is frequently followed by serious relapse, and such interruption should not be possible simply because of an inability to continue a regular contribution.
The subcommittee recommend that the board be requested to take steps to bring to the knowledge of the outpatients that the disability to pay their usual contribution does not debar them from continuing to receive the benefits of the charity.
On This Day is a diary of day to day life in the Hospital covering 1859 to the 1940’s.
Extracts are taken from the staff records, letters, the reports of the Matron and the Lady Superintendent, and the minutes of the Board of Management and the Medical Committee. They were compiled with the help of Janet Townsend, Frankie Alves, Louise Shepherd, Michael Clark and Liz Yamada
The item of the month also contains items highlighted by archive staff.