Annual report : 1947 / Prince of Wales Hospital, Plymouth.

  • Prince of Wales's Hospital (Plymouth, England)
Date:
1947
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report : 1947 / Prince of Wales Hospital, Plymouth. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    10/36 (page 8)
    The difficulties of building and materials are fully realised but the problem of providing additional and improved accommodation for the Nursing Staff is an all-important one if the Hospital is to maintain its existing services. Application has been made to the Ministry of Health for the erection of temporary recreation rooms at Greenbank Road and Devonport. The work of the Physiotherapy Department has far outgrown the accommodation available and lack of space imposes great incon¬ venience on patients and staff. Nothing less than a completely new Department of adequate dimensions will solve existing difficulties. This, however, will not be realised for some years and the Board are exploring the possibility of providing some additional accommoda¬ tion in the garage at the rear of the North Friary Nurses’ Home. The Board’s schemes for providing a Pathological Laboratory adequate to meet the needs of the area served by the Hospital, and for alterations to an empty Ward unit at Devonport have been deferred until the national building situation is easier. Throughout the year, at three-monthly intervals, an Acoustic Specialist visited the Ear, Nose and Throat Department to give advice to those patients requiring hearing-aids. CO-OPERATION IN SERVICE. In addition to maintaining the existing good relationships with Ministries, Associations, other hospitals and with committees whose aims and interests are similar, the Board have made new contacts. This is in accordance with their aims to increase the efficiency of the medical and nursing services and to raise still higher the standard of work and teaching. The Joint Admission Bureau established by the Plymouth Public Health Committee and the Hospital ensures the immediate admission of all acute medical and surgical cases occurring in the City with resultant benefit to patients, doctors and hospitals’ staffs. Following the recognition of the Hospital as the Administrative Centre of the Cancer Service of Devon and Cornwall, the Director, Dr. Duncan Wood, F.R.C.S., established his headquarters at Greenbank Road and was accorded a warm welcome. Through the kindness and courtesy of the Church Trustees and voluntary helpers a Hospital Buffet was opened in the School Room of the Greenbank Road Methodist Church on Monday, 24th Novem¬ ber. It is much appreciated by patients and their friends attending Hospital and fulfils a long-felt want. In co-operation with Bristol University, full support has been given to the Government’s Scheme for providing post-graduate training facilities for medical practitioners who have been released from the Services. Page Eight