REGIONAL HOSPITAL BOARDS

667 wasteful to use her morning freshness, on routinechores. first lecture at 10.30 ; they can even sleep- out the night before if that happens to be their- day off. Formal ’work The custom of sending her on the wards from 7 to 8 A.M. ends at 6 P.M. and they have the evening free for private this in when staff were too few to hospital began manage the work of that busy hour. That reason no longer study. At the other hospital, study-day lectures begin at 9 A.M. and the day ends at 4.30 P.M. Thus the nurses get up holds, but the custom is unfortunately maintained. later on two mornings a week (the day off and the study-day) The nurses would certainly benefit physically and mentally -which is good for young people who may have contracted an in of extra hour of sleep the mornings by getting a sleep-debt. They also say they have a sense of continuous the block period, and perhaps also by having an hour’s study with no cramming. clinical work later in the day when it would make a The drawback to the study-day system is that it refreshing break in their studies. only covers 8-16 weeks in the second and third years. Nurses questioned own that they wish it went on all PRACTICE INTERSPERSED WITH THEORY the year round, but the various courses occupy 8 months The. alternative to the block system-the weekly of the sister tutor’s year, leaving 4 months clear for the study-day-also has much to recommend it, and again holiday seasons and for the time spent by students, on two examples may be quoted. night duty. Perhaps the solution would be to allow 2 study-days a week for selected short periods during In a large London teaching hospital nurses spend 11 the three years’ course. weeks in the preliminary training school, and then enter the wards. After entering the wards they have Whatever the rival merits of these two systems, they two courses of weekly study-days yearly, beginning in are both an outstanding advance on the still general March and September. They get 16 study-days in the custom of forcing the nurse to study in whatever odd first year (two 8-week courses), 17 in the second year, moments she can find. They are a genuine attempt to 16 in the third year and 4 days in preparation for the give her some of the privileges of a student, and to final examination-53 days in all, or counting the offer young people entering the profession some of the status and consideration extended to those entering preliminary training school, 108 days. the medical auxiliary and social services. Headmistresses In the second example, a large general hospital, the preliminary training school course lasts only 8 weeks ; and others who know the young educated girl say that this is a matter of principle : the matron believes that good training will always attract her. If matrons generally would adopt one or other of these systems-and do it students learn more easily, and retain their keenness better, if they are taught only nursing measures in the in a realistic spirit, recognising the nature of the world preliminary training school, and are not taught anatomy we live in, and the girls they are seeking to attractand physiology until their curiosity about the structure they might go far towards ending the grim situation in which shortage of student nurses has placed us. , and function of the body has been aroused by a little ward experience ; and there is much to be said for this view. They have two 12-week periods of weekly studydays in the first year, in addition to the 8 weeks in the REGIONAL HOSPITAL BOARDS preliminary training school. In their second year they THE Minister of Health has made the following get one period of 8-10 weeks, and a like period in their third year. Study-days in the three years’ course at this appointments to fill the vacancies caused by the retirehospital thus range from 8 to 84-which compares poorly ment of a third of the members of the 14 boards in with the 130- or 160 days of nurses trained on the England and Wales. Out of 118 appointments so far block system. made, 87 are reappointments of retiring members. There are still 8 appointments outstanding. Those now FROM THE STUDENT’S VIEWPOINT appointed will hold office till March 31, 1952. The names of members of the medical profession are. shown The nurse allowed only 4 days to rub up her knowledge in bold type. for the final must surely think enviously of the girl NEWCASTLE REGION who gets a fortnight ; while the average nurse-who : Thomas Benfold, c.B.E., j.f. ; E. F. Rfo.poed gets no extra time at all-must think bitterly of both. Collingwood, c.B.E., J.r. ;Alderman Alfred Cooper;.’D., C. When the vast area covered by the theoretical syllabus Dickson, F.R.c.s.E.; John Foster; William Eraser, M.B.; is considered, it is impossible to see how any ordinary Alderman J. A. Hutchinson ; Robert- Muckle. ’.it in alone 160 let could master 80 ; days, young person .New member Rev. R. E. Robson. One further app.ointand this explains why examiners of nurses so often set ment still to be made. difficult questions but mark them on a low standard : no other course is open to them. LEEDS REGION The block system, since it keeps the nurse for some : Reappointed: Alderman H. J. Bambridge, O.’&bgr;:;E:; 4.r. weeks out of the run of the tide in the wards, is said Lawrence Crowther, o.B.E., J.P.Miss M. F. Dykes, S.R.N. ; to divorce theory and practice. It is also difficult to D. C. Muir, - Prof. Matthew Stewart, F..c.r. ; Alderman Arthur Sugden, J.P. arrange administratively, requiring more additional nurses than-the weekly study-day and being altogether New members:A. F. George ; W. W. A. KeBy,-m- *B.1-J.P. less flexible. If a nurse falls sick while taking a block period it is difficult to fit her in again to make up lost SHEFFIELD REGION ground ;but on the other system, the nurse can either Reappointed: Alderman C. F. Bowmer, make up the lost ground with the sister tutor, or join Brown, F.R.C.P.; A. W. Harrison ; Lord Quibell, j.r. ; the next group when they are taking the lectures she Alderman Edward Sheerien, J.r. ; J. G. McCrie, o.B.B., M:B. ; ’:missed. Moreover she remains in touch with her cases, Miss A: Wetherell, s.R..rr. and is even called upon to demonstrate one from time New members : Councillor Mrs. Olive Deer ; W. E. Jones ; to time on a study-day. The whole week is the lighter Alderman E. A. Armstrong. for being broken by a study-day in addition to the EAST ANGLIAN REGION day.-and-a-half off duty ;;- and matrons are’somehow more humane about arranging the study-day than they Reappointed:: Mrs. Hester Adrian, i.p.; C. R. Caselton ; the block. P. F. Dennard; J. V. Morris, M;B. ; Colonel J. D. Portway ; I:Q.: on$ef the hospitals quoted the nurses do not breakfast Miss J. G. Thompson, S.R.N.Alderman Mrs. Mary Whitmore. New member : H. Payne, J.’p. - on their study-day till 9 or 9.30 A.M., and come to their I

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are about planning

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In

NORTH-WEST METROPOLITAN REGION

Members reappointed :: Miss Vera Dart; Horace

A.

C.

Joules,

Morson,

O.B.E.,

Now

England

F.R.C.S. ;

H. E. A. Boldero,

A

Running Commentary by Peripatetic Correspondents " You are a famous pianist," Mr. Ralph Slater told New members: M. Hackett; Miss M. L. Hall, s.R.N. five sleeping figures at the Princes Theatre on April 1, Alderman Mrs. B. A. J.P. Mrs. Blofield ; Beaumont, and you are giving a recital. The piano is there in front of you-go on, play." The young woman, the NORTH-EAST METROPOLITAN REGION young man, the two elderly men, and the unmistakeable professional man turned to at once and gave of Alderman C. E. S. Blackmore ; Members reappointed: Hypnosis is always Captain H. Brierley, o.B.E., M.C. ; Somerville Hastings, their best, as Uckridge used to say. five people under at fascinating, and I had never seen F.R.C.S., M.P. ; Alderman S. F. Johnson, j.r. ; E. T. Neatherwas the way in The a time before. most C. S. B. C. C. striking thing J.P.; coat, c.B.E., Wentworth-Stanley; which differences of personality survived in these autoCarus-Wilson, M.C. matons. The girl-she turned out later to be an almoner New member:Miss Rootham, s.R.N. at one of our teaching hospitals-played her imaginary piano with feeling and delight, enjoying the pleasure SOUTH-EAST METROPOLITAN REGION she was getting and giving, and enthralled by her own One of the elderly gentlemen, who told us success. Reappointed:: Alderman R. H. Burslem, J.P.; Dame later he was a civil servant, kept his hands to himself Barrie Lambert, D.B.E., M.B., j.p. ;Alderman Rev. Harcourt and waggled his fingers up and down ; the other one Samuel; J. R. H. Turton, F.R.C.S. the piano wildly and enthusiastically. He was ranged New members: T. W. 8tigger ; H. C. Edwards, c.B.E., a printer of music, of some eminence, and a beautiful Two further appointments. F.R.C.S. subject for hypnotism, accepting every suggestion with gusto. He was probably playing Rachmaninoff’s prelude. The professional man-he proved to be a dentistSOLTTH-WEST METROPOLITAN REGION to rather well. The young man (he worked appeared : H. P.. Mitchiner, C.B., C.B.E., F.R.C.S.; in a bank) play Reappointed ; us a series of powerful chords. The gave J. A. Tulk, J.P.; J. M. Wyatt, F.R.C.S., F.R.C.O.G. same sorts of differences appeared at every stage. When New members:W. H. Tooes ; Alderman H. Regan, J.P. ; told they were three-year-olds crying for their mother, Mrs. M. Ormerod ; D. Jackman, M.B.E., J.P. One further the girl, the young man, and the music-printer played the appointment. part quite passionately, while the dentist and the civil servant could barely manage an inhibited whimper. OXFORD REGION When told they had all been drinking bumpers of neat the dentist moved carefully and with great Reappointed:: Prof. A. D. Gardner, D.M. ; Alderman Mrs. whisky, the dignity, girl seemed to get a violent headache, the A. Jenkins, J.r. ;Miss R. R. Jolliffe, S.R.N. ; P. C. Raffety, civil servant looked troubled ; but the young man and the J.P. ;J. S. I. Skottowe, M.D. ; A. J. B. Selwood. music-printer danced and sang without embarrassment: New members: F. Etherington ; Mrs. French. they saw no harm in being merry, but clearly the other Mr. Slater, whose slow three found it disgraceful. SOUTH-WESTERN REGION delivery nearly put the audience to sleep for other reasons F.R.C.P. ;

F.R.C.P.

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Reappointed ::

A. L. Candler, F.R.c.s.; R. E. Hemphill, M.D. ; Alderman J. Milton, J.P.; Miss R. C. Shackles, s.R.N. ;

Samuel McClements,

M.R.C.S.

New members:: Councillor F. A. C. Riddick ; C. Rew ; The Very Rev. Garfield Williams, o.B.E., M.B. ; N. L. Capener, One further appointment. F.R.c.s. WELSH REGION

R. D. Aiyar, F.R.c.s.E.;

Reappointed: :

A. H. Coleman,

H. G. Davies, M.R.C.S.; Richard Davies ; Alderman Richard Gronow ; Mrs. H. Evans, J.P. ; Prof. E. A. Owen ; Mrs. E. Owen, s.R.N.; Rev. B. Waldo-Lewis. New membersAlderman E. Williams, a.P. ; Eugene Cross.

o.B.E., F.R.C.s.E. ;

BIRMINGHAM REGION

Norman Duggan, F.R.c.s. ; Major Cyril Prof. H. F. Humphreys, o.B.E., M.C., M.B.,

Reappoirtted: Hotchkiss,

J.P.

M.D.S. ; Sir Leonard Parsons, F.R.C.P., F.R.S. ; J. J. M.B. ; Alderman W. T. Smith, J.P. New members : G. V. Grimshaw. Three further ments. ’

O’Reilly,

appoint-

in the

course of a very long evening, is adept at inducing hypnosis: at one point he had about twenty people asleep at once. He kept his five chosen subjects asleep for well over an hour, and put them to sleep again with He a clap of the hands after he had roused them. showed us all the classical tricks, including some amusing examples of post-hypnotic suggestion. He passed a lighted match under a sleeper’s hand, stood on the stomach of a subject lying rigid between two chairs, and

took a few rather cruel liberties with human dignity. On the whole he was considerate, however, and certainly he was competent. It was interesting to note how he picked his cases : the tough young man was needed for the rigidity demonstration, the pretty girl to be made to kiss her favourite film star, the professional man and the civil servant-both reserved and dignified-for prestige, and the music-printer because he was an asset’ to any performance, awake or asleep. But is there much to be said for making unconscious people behave foolishly in public ? They ask for it, of course : they were all volunteers ; and there is not the least doubt that they were strangers to Mr. Slater and genuinely hypnotised. I think I would rather see rabbits come out of a hat. *

MANCHESTER REGION

Reappointed :: Grant,

R.R.c. ;

Walter Briggs, M.B., J.P.;Miss L. G. Duff Sir Thomas Tomlinson, J.P. ; Councillor T. E. F. Pilkington, J.P. ; Alderman Joseph

Hourigan ; Major Eastham,

J.P.

New members : Alderman T. H. Adams, J.P.; Alderman S. T. Marron, J.P.;Prof. W. I. C. Morris, F.R.C.O.G. LIVERPOOL REGION

Brown, M.B., J.P. ; Miss M. Jones, Reappointed o.B.E., R.R.c. ; Mountford ; D. R. Owen, F.R.C.S.E. ; Alma Parkin, J.P. ;Prof. H. H. Stones, M.D., M.D.S. ; Alderman :

D. J. F.

David Plinston, J.E. ; Ernest Smethurstr New member : W. Gibbs. - - ,

J.P. -

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I havefound a superb use for medical circulars, though it will doubtless make the child psychologists shudder : a promise of these coloured brochures will induce my small sons to finish their breakfast quickly Distribution requires the sagacity when all else fails. of a Solomon, but from experience I consider one picture of Atropa belladonna is roughly equivalent to a picture of a skeleton, clothed apparently in strands of red string, plus the portrait of a sleeping beauty. Lately, alas, breakfasts have tended to be protracted, and the There has been a spate of reason, I find, is vitamins.

literature about them, and little else, and coloured but picture-free pieces of shiny paper will not get one mouthful of food swallowed the quicker. My children must have pictures, even if only of a spastic colon, and until manufacturing chemists once more turn their artiste