Licence: In copyright
Credit: Annual report of the Board of Control : 12th, 1925. Source: Wellcome Collection.
![The wards generally are well kept. A good deal of redecoration is still due, for instance in Male Ward 5. We are informed that letter boxes are about to be put up in each ward, and that notices about patients’ correspondence are being prepared. In Male Ward 1, the cloth of the billiard table requires renewal. In the laundry we noticed that the automatic guard to the calender failed to act, and we think that the ironing stove should be screened off by an asbestos screen. More care should be taken to see that the patients do not use the hydro-extractor without the cover being on it. In Female Ward 3 there is only one w.c. for use by 29 patients. Extra sanitary accommodation should be provided here. The health of the patients has been good and except for a few cases of influenza there has been no epidemic disease. The patients known to be suffering from tuberculosis number 5, (2 men and 3 women), and these, as well as those who are considered in any way suspects are as far as possible segregated from others, in a special ward. It is worthy of note that there has only been one case of dysentery (1921) in the institution since February, 1918, and there is no record of even a slight case of diarrhoea since 1923. We were satisfied with the care with which the sick patients are nursed, but deplore the absence of verandahs for them and for the recent admissions. In this connection we discussed with Dr. Reardon the possibility of dividing the infirmary block on the female side, so that the acute sick, and also the convalescents, could each be given a small department for their own use with the possibility of erecting a verandah adjoining both the day room and dormitory for the sick. We hope hospital trolleys for surgical dressings may be obtained. The 21 deaths were all due to natural causes except in the case of one patient whose death followed a suicidal act committed before admission, and the diagnosis was confirmed by post-mortem examinations in the excellent proportion of 80 per cent. The death rate for 1924 was 6-9 per cent., the rate for both sexes being practically equal. The methods of prescribing and issuing aperient medicines is not satisfactory, but Dr. Reardon will give the matter his attention. No mechanical restraint has been used. Seclusion has been resorted to in the case of 1 man and 7 women on 1 and 119 occasions, respectively, for short periods. Completed since the last visit is the division of Ward 5 on the female side into two parts, accommodating 45 patients in each, instead of 90 in the one. In each of these subdivided wards, new sanitary annexes have been built for the dormitories. The present nursing staff consists of :— Males. Females. Total. Charge • • m 5 9 14 Ordinary - - - - • 27 56 83 Night - - 5 9 14 No women nurses are employed on the male side. A good proportion of the nursing staff is in possession of the certificate of the Medico-Psychological Association, 21 of the men and 14 of the women having passed the final examination, and 5 men and 11 women the preliminary. Dr. Reardon has the assistance of two medical colleagues, Dr. J. G. Thomas, and Dr. T. J. McCarthy. Some of the case-book notes of the male patients are much in arrears. Joint Counties Mental Hospital, Carmarthen. December 9th, 1925. We have to-day completed the annua] inspection of this hospital on behalf of our Board, which we began early yesterday morning.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b30683798_0192.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
