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This particular report from Etaples details how the Hospital experienced a quieter week than average, with Colonel Trimble commenting that he has “confidence to believe that we could deal with a more intense strain without any inconvenience”. As well as diligently recording an accurate number of stretcher and walking cases received, the Colonel also moves onto the topics of the number of visits to the Hospital plus the staff and their movements. It is at this point where one discovers that a quite a few of the staff have been taken ill, such as Sister Swann who may not be able to return to the Hospital. In addition, it is noted the beloved Captain Cryable may be leaving the Hospital.
PAGE 1
My Lord,
I beg to forward you my weekly report which
embraces the 13th to the 19th inst.
The first portion of the week was particularly
quiet but we were all along anticipating that the promised
push on this front would make our hospital busy, and so it
turned out.
The following convoys were received:-
| Stretchers | Walkers | ||||||||
| Friday. | No. | 1. | A.T. | @ | 12 | a.m. | 64. | ||
| Saty. | “ | 27. | “ | “ | 6.50. | “ | 64. | 59. | |
| “ | “ | . | “ | “ | “ | “ | (Officers) | 7. | |
| “ | “ | 14. | “ | “ | 6.0. | p.m. | 42. | 57. | |
| “ | “ | . | “ | “ | “ | “ | (Officers) | 1. | 4. |
| Sunday | “ | 22. | “ | “ | 1.30 | .a.m. | 48. | ||
| “ | “ | 28. | “ | “ | 3.0. | “ | 143. | ||
| Monday | “ | 28. | “ | “ | 10. | .p.m. | 69. | 18. | |
| Tuesday | “ | 14. | “ | “ | 3 | .p.m. | 60. | 42. |
Making a total admitted of 678 cases.
There were discharged during the week 396
patients.
I think it is quite apparent that the hospital
is playing the role a base avacuating hospital.
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I am glad to be in a position to report that
during this pressure everything has worked quite smoothly,
in fact I have the confidence to believe that we could deal
with a more intense strain without any inconvenience.
In a great many instances the stretcher cases were very ser-
ious which made the work in the wards of a very heavy nature.
On Friday the Secretary of the Victoria Chest
Hospital and the Secretary of the Central Ear, Throat and Nose
Hospital, in Queen Square, visited the Hospital, I was just
leaving for England on a three days leave when these gentleman
arrived, however Major Houston and Captain Gordon showed them
all round and they expressed very favourable opinions as to
the organisation, equipment and working at our Hospital,
returned
Sister Gould/ from Villa Tino and is proceeding
on sick leave to England tomorrow.
V.A.D. Nurse Rene Tailour and Sister Swann are still
at the sick Sisters hospital and I trust will soon be able to
leave that institution. Sister Swann will not I think be
able to continue her service with the Hospital, and I rather
doubt whether Nurse Rene Tailour will be able to continue
with us.
Sisters King, Ballance and Rycroft and Nurses
Ingledev, Batey and Patchett proceeded on leave to England
on Monday.
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-3- 20.9.16.
I very much regret that I fear the Hospital will
be losing the services of Captain Cryable, who is one of our
Surgeons and out Raidographer, when his contract expires in
October. His loss will be of considerable importance to the
Hospital, and personally I regret it very much. It appears
to me that in some instances when men have been away from
England for twelve months they have to consider the possibility
of being able to remain any longer away from their work at
home.
There is nothing else of interest that needs
reporting to you.
Yours etc.
(Sgd) CHARLES J. TRIMBLE.
The Director
The Ambulance Department,
St. John`s Gate.
