Annual report for the year ended 31st March, 1952 / The hospital management committee for St. Augustine's.

  • St. Augustine's Hospital (Chartham Down). Hospital Management Committee.
Date:
[1952?]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Annual report for the year ended 31st March, 1952 / The hospital management committee for St. Augustine's. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    REPORTS OF THE BOARD OF CONTROL (1) St. Augustine’s Hospital, 14th November, 1951. The names of 1551 patients are on the books, and of these 684 are men and 867 are women. Sixty-nine men and 87 women are voluntary patients and there are four temporary patients. Ten patients are on trial and 6 on leave. There were 713 admissions in 1950 and of these 579 were admitted from their homes. In addition 8 were admitted as transfers from other hospitals. In the same period 523 patients departed or were discharged and 14 were transferred to other care. In the year 73 patients were sent on trial and 560 were given leave. At pres¬ ent 117 men and 80 women are allowed on parole ; in all cases this is parole beyond the estate. Five wards only are open to the grounds. The latest figure available for the weekly maintenance rate is 65/4d. I think that this figure is lower than average for comparable hospitals. The most important happening since the last visit has been the opening of Oak House, the male and female admission hospital. This took place in July, but the male section was, until a month ago, used for a group of patients while their own ward was being decorated. Not only are the authorities concerned to be congratulated on the opening, long deferred, of this building, but also on the excellence of its decoration, * furnishing, and equipment. The bed-linen, furniture, curtains and decorations are all good and the general impression I had was of comfort and attractiveness. Only the better type of new patients are admitted here. This building accommodates the X-ray Department and the Dental room, and another room is now ready for equipment as a second women’s hairdressing saloon. There is already one in the main building where two full-time hairdressers work. Two staff houses are now nearly finished and this is a matter of the first importance. They will be used at first by medical officers. That a house is available is of crucial value when recruiting medical staff.