Extracts from the Minutes of the Board of Management, National Hospital for the Paralysed and Epileptic.
The Board meeting resolved that:
The dispenser Mr F G Page having tendered his resignation. It was resolved that the situation be advertised and candidates see the Board on Thursday next.
That and preparation of drugs not expensive be had at Mssrs. Darby and Gosden, 140 Leadenhall Street.
That Mrs M Maling, widow aged 32 be appointed as Nurse at £14 per an £2.12 for tea and sugar and 24 shillings for washing as her agreement.
That the Physicians be good enough to provide a Man to act as Night Nurse in the Male ward wages not to exceed £25 per an.
That the Cook and Porter engaged pro tem remain here till next Thursday at the same wages as their predecessors.
The physicians having certified that the ward for Males would be ready for use on Monday. It was resolved that Mr John Powell a patient recommended by Dr Ramskill be requested to come in on Tuesday next.
Board of Management Minutes: Jul 1894 – Jan 1902 NHNN/A/4/5
[The Secretary Director] reported four instances arising within four consecutive days when both House Physicians had been reported to him as having been away at the same time. He reminded the Board that this matter had been before them upon previous occasions during the term of office of the previous House Physicians. […]
Mr Colin Campbell stated that he was the only member of the House Committee present when the secretary Director made his report and he had thought it best that the matter should be dealt with by the Board. One of the delegates of the Medical Committee (Dr Beevor) who happened to be in the Hospital at the time of the House Committee’s meeting attended at his (Mr Campbell’s) request and fully shared the serious view taken of the circumstances.
Dr Stewart and Dr Collier were severally seen. Each admitted the accuracy of the statement placed before the Board and offered certain explanations. Subsequently, the Board saw the Lady Superintendent, and after her, Sister Headford. In reply to questions they stated that the occasions when both House Physicians had been absent at the same time during the present year had been frequent and were becoming increasingly so.
Miss Tweed and Miss Headford having withdrawn, Dr Stewart and Dr Collier were again called in and informed of what had been stated.
Dr Collier admitted that he had regarded the Children’s Hospital, Great Ormond Street as within bounds.
The House Physicians having withdrawn, it was resolved that the Secretary-Director, in consultation with Mr Russell, prepare a letter to be forwarded to the House Physicians, which should deal with all the points which had arisen, and having made clear that the Board regard the matter as one of great gravity, set forth their determination to act promptly and with severity should any similar breach of rules occur in the future.
At a Special Meeting of the Board of Management held… to consider the application of the Medical Committee to be directly represented upon the Board of Management.
The Secretary-Director thereupon read a statement he had prepared in reply to the printed addresses of the members of the staff presented in support of the application. He then formulated the objections to the proposal which occurred to him, and dealt with the constitutional aspect of the question and the suggestion of resignation by the staff if their views were not accepted. […]
It was moved by Mr George W.E. Burnell, seconded by the Lord High Chancellor and unanimously resolved:
That the answer of the Board to the Medical Committee be that by Rule 5, Section 5, in the rules for the constitution of the charity, the Board are prevented from adding members of the Medical Staff to the Board, that the Board after careful consideration are not prepared to recommend an alteration of that rule, and that under the circumstances, they invite the Medical Committee to revert to the plan of sending delegates to the Board. In making this suggestion, the Board desire to express their regret that upon one occasion an error was committed, by which the delegates were not invited to an adjoined discussion, and undertake that such error shall not be repeated.
Secretary’s Letter Book: NHNN/A/31
To the Superintendent, Detective Department, Scotland Yard
Dear Sir,
A number of sheets (68) have been taken from this Hospital. The article is a sheet of twill calico, hemmed at two sides, measuring 1 yard by 1½ yards (about). Each sheet is marked NH over a number, this being stamped with a die.
Will you please do what is necessary to find the thief and return the property?
Yours faithfully,
Godfrey H. Hamilton (secretary)
Matron’s Reports NHNN/N/3/1
A E Billington - reports from 27 April 1926 to 7 May 1929
‘I have to report that male nurse, W E P, fell from a bicycle on Saturday, June 18, and injured his right shoulder and upper arm. He has been a patient in Princess Christian Ward since June 19.’ (29.11.27. ‘I have to report that on the advice of the Chairman one month’s notice was given to Nurse W E P for unsatisfactory conduct. This will expire on Dec 9 and Nurse P will terminate his period of duty here dating from March 28 1925.’)
Matron’s Reports NHNN/N/3/2
Cicely U Tafe – reports from 21 May 1929 to 22 May 1945
‘I am glad to be able to inform the Board that the General Nursing Council has approved our affiliation scheme between the National Temperance Hospital, Hampstead Road and the Bolingbroke Hospital, Wandsworth Common and this Hospital. This will be of the greatest assistance to us, because the Royal South Hants and Southampton Hospital is the only one remaining of the old group, who accepted the nurses.’
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 and Michael Clark.
The item of the month also contains items highlighted by archive staff.