Annual report of the Mendip Hospital Management Committee : 1948.

  • Mendip Hospital Management Committee.
Date:
1948
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report of the Mendip Hospital Management Committee : 1948. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    15/16 (page 15)
    T In the period under revdew 11 patients hav^e sustained fractures and there has been one dislocation. Seven of these injuries were due to falls or to other accidental causes, two were due to impulsive acts on the part of fellow patients, while in the remaining three cases the cause of the injury was unknown, although in two of these instances restlessness was thought to be responsible. X-ray examination confirmed the diagnosis in the case of all of the fractures. Last year four cases of tuberculosis were notified on the male side, and since the beginning of this year there have been three further cases (two males and one female), but at the present time four men remain under treatment. Male patients who have the disease in an active form have to be treated in single rooms as there is no verandah on this division of the Hospital. On the female side there is a verandah in Villa 9 but there are no cases under treatment at present. The chests of suspected cases are X-rayed and the plates are interpreted by Dr. Martin. Dysentery attacked one man and six women last year, but no one has this disease at the present time. Cases who have had typhoid in‘the past are in female ward 2—the isolation ward. Here there are 22 women who show positive Widal reactions, and included in this number there are four carriers, two of whom were recently discovered to be excreting the organism—the strains, however, differed in each case. Three of these cases occupy a small dormitory where they have their meals also, and the remaining case is nursed in a single room. At the time of my visit there were 79 patients (17 males and 62 females) being nursed in bed. A high proportion of them were elderly and infirm. I thought that a good knowledge of individual cases was shown by the Medical Staff. Special forms of treatment include electric convulsions combined in certain cases with curare. Electro-narcosis has been introduced and I was able to see this treatment being given yesterday on the female side. A small room has been set aside on the male side for insulin shock- Two patients can be treated at one time, but it is proposed to prepare a larger room in M.l Ward for this purpose. A new anaesthetic apparatus and operating table have recently been purchased. I was interested to hear that much has been done to improve the condition of the skins of many patients by the use of vitamins, fresh vegetables, and when possible extra milk. Out-patient clinics are held fortnightly at Weston-super-Mare and weekly in this Hospital. Several patients who have been seen at the last-mentioned clinic attend at other times for electric convulsive treat¬ ment, and return to their homes later in the day. Dr. McGarvey has to assist him Dr. Darlington who is his Deputy, and Dr. Fry and Dr. Spence who are Assistant Medical Officers. Dr. Janet Martin is here as a locum tenens Medical Officer. Dr. McGarvey kindly interrupted his leave to see me to-day, and discussed many points of interest concerning the Hospital. Dr. Darlington, who accompanied me round the Wards, gave me every assistance throughout an interesting visit. Signed. R. G. ANDERSON, Commissioner of the Board of Control.