Annual report : 1944 / Corbett Hospital, Stourbridge.

  • Corbett Hospital (Stourbridge, England)
Date:
1944
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report : 1944 / Corbett Hospital, Stourbridge. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    4/16 (page 4)
    i REPORT OF THE BOARD OF MANAGEMENT. Your Board have to present their 52nd Annual Report, in abridged form again. The detailed lists of Subscriptions and Donations have been prepared and may be inspected at the House Governor’s Office at any time. The Annual General Meeting unanimously re-elected Major W. Harcourt Webb as President, and Mr. J. James as Honorary Treasurer. The Board of Management, at their first Meeting of the year, unani¬ mously re-elected Sir Sidney Law, J.P., as Chairman, and Mr. J. M. Standish as Vice-Chairman. The Standing Committees were re-elected en bloc. Obituary.—With very deep reguet, your Board report the great loss sustained during the year, by the death of Mr. J. Wardale King. Mr. Iving had, before being elected to the board of Management, given valuable services for a number of years in many ways. The vacancy thus created was filled by the appointment of Mr. T. Share, of Wollescote, who had been actively associated with the Hospital in connection with the Lye and Wollescote Carnival Committee, the Lye and Wollescote Egg Collection and the Contributory Fund for a very long time. Legacies.—The following legacies were received and are most gratefully acknowledged to the Executors of the late:—■ Mr. E. Davies .... .... .... .... £1,000 0 0 Miss E. Brough .... .... .... .... £45 0 0 Miss M. Skidmore Westwood .... .... £200 0 0 Staff.—Thanks are accorded to the Medical, Nursing, Clerical and other Staffs for their services during the year, which was probably one of the most difficult in many ways owing to the restriction on the admission of civilians, rationing and the general shortage of staff: Arrangements for the reception of convoys of wounded were put to the test and proved to have been very efficiently organised, and an atmosphere of co-operation among all those engaged was obvious. Members of the medical and surgical staff were called upon to undertake work at various Emergency Hospitals and this made it necessary, as far as was possible, for the remaining members of the staff to shoulder heavier responsibilities. The Board hope that in the near future the Honorary Staff will be sufficiently relieved to resume their normal attendances, and the Board take this opportunity df thanking the civilian population for the very tolerant manner in which they accepted the position. The nursing problem has been very much affected owing to the compulsory direction by the Ministry of Labour to other Llospitals of Nurses six months after becoming State Registered, and no adequate substitutes being provided. Your Board are aware that the nursing position generally throughout the country is most unsatisfactory and the number of probationer nurses entering the profession is gravely insufficient. The position calls for urgent and well-counselled advice as to future steps to be taken. Preliminary Training School.—Your Board, acting upon the recom¬ mendations of the General Nursing Council for England and Wales, have decided to establish a Preliminary Training School for Nurses, and as soon as the property which they own becomes available, the necessary alterations will be carried out. It is hoped that the School will afford accommodation in the first place for 12 students for each session. Chaplaincy.—The resignation, on account of health reasons, of the Reverend Stephen Pritt, A.K.C., was received with very much regret and the Bishop of Worcester was approached, but owing to the very difficult times the vacancy so created has not been filled, as many members of the Clergy are serving in H.M. Forces. Mr. Pritt’s services are greatly appre¬ ciated and your Board tender him their warmest thanks and best wishes. Annual Subscriptions.—£594 8s. lOd. was received from Annual Sub¬ scriptions, which was slightly less than that of the previous year. There are still many residents in the Hospital area/to whom your Board feel that they must again appeal. Gymkhana Committee.—Another very successful Gymkhana was held on August Banir Holiday Monday, as a result of which the Hospital received £1,530 16s. 9d. Improvements to the Hospital grounds, particularly the jumping arena, have been carried out. To the whole o' t’ e < vmkhana Committee and their supporters, your Board tender their most grateful thanks and hope the Committee will continue to meet with every success.