NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
Duties of the Military Medical Services.
Paras. 224-29
224. Copies of recommendations.—He will forward to the 0.C.
hospital for information copies of all important written recommenda
- t i o n s s e n t t o t h e O . C . u n i t ,
225. Inoculation and vaccination.—He will be responsible for
carrying out all preventive inoculations and vaccinations of the troops
families and followers of which he is in medical charge, and for furnish
- i n g p a r t i c u l a r s r e q u i r e d f o r t h e p r e p a r a t i o n o f r e t u r n s a n d s t a t i s t i c s
in regard to these,
He will ensure that all officers and men newly arriving for service
in India who are not protected against the enteric group of diseases
and small-pox are inoculated and vaccinated at the earliest possible
opportunity if they are willing.
He will similarly vaccinate and inoculate all Indian recruits
and newly joined followers at the earliest opportunity after they join
their unfit.
2 2 6 . I n f e c t i o u s d i s e a s e r e p o r t s . — O n t h e o c c u r r e n c e o f i n f e c t i o u s
disease or any unusual sickness among the troops or military families
in his care, he will report the matter forthwith to the 0.C. hospital,
and will take such immediate action as he considers necessary.
227. Statistics and records.—He will maintain the following books
and records :—
(1) Sanitary diary (vide para. 218).
(2) Barrack treatment, admission and discharge book (vide Sec-
tion VIII
(3) Inoculation and vaccination registers. A record of vacci--
nations and inoculations performed on officers, soldiers
and followers, and the families of these.
(4) Malarial register of men attending for post hospital malarial
treatment.
.
(5) V.D. register of men attending for post V.D. treatment.
APPOINTMENT AND DUTIES OF STAFF SURGEONS.
228. Appointment of staff surgeons.—Staff surgeons are appointed
to certain stations.
The appointments are whole time ones at Bangalore, Poona and
Quetta. At other stations periodically notified in Government orders,
the staff surgeon performs his duties as such in addition to his
ordinary duties.
229. Duties of staff surgeons.—The Staff Surgeon is normally the
medical attendant (i) of all persons entitled to medical attendance
not in regimental employ or not attached to a unit to which an officer
is nominated in medical charge; (ii) of officers, other ranks and
their families on leave in his station.
He may in addition be detailed in medical charge of such other
entitled persons in his station as may be necessary.
45
Paras. 230-31.
Duties of the Military Medical Services.
He will be guided in the performance of his duties by the regula-
tions contained in paras. 207 to 227.
At stations where the services of a Civil Surgeon are not avail
-able, the duty of examining proposers for the Postal Life Insurance
will be performed, free of charge, by the Staff Surgeon or the medical
officer performing the duties of the Staff Surgeon.
Duties of Recruiting medical officers.
230. Recruiting medical officers are appointed at certain stations
to examine recruits as to their physical fitness for the Indian army.
They will perform these duties in addition to their normal duties.
They will be guided in their examination by rules contained in " Ins-
tructions for the physical examination of recruits for the Indian army "
issued by A.H.Q. from time to time.
Records.—Each recruiting medical officer will maintain a register
in A.B.-46 of all recruits examined by him and will note therein in
the case of those rejected as unfit the reasons for their rejection. He
will also complete I.A.F. K-1162 for each recruit passed fit by him.
Specialist medical officers.
231. Specialist appointments and duties.—These appointments are
made vide Appendix I from among R.A.M.C. or I.M.S. officers who
are considered, by the D.M.S. in India in the case of R.A.M.C. officers,
and by the D.G., I.M.S., in the case of I.M.S. officers specially quali-
fied to hold them.
An officer may qualify as a specialist at any period of his service
but may not draw specialist pay in a specialist appointment if above
the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel (vide Pay and Allowance Regulations,
paragraph 18, Part I).
Specialist officers are appointed to commands, districts or inde-
pendent brigades and are usually posted for duty with B.M.Hs. or
I.M.Hs. at headquarters stations. They are available to assist and
advise medical officers in the treatment of sick but will perform these
special duties in addition to their ordinary duties as executive medical
officers.
The authorised number of specialist appointments is as follows :—
Medicine . . .
6
Dermatology . . .
10
Surgery . . .
21
Ophthalmology . . .
10
Otology, Laryngology and Rhinology . . .
3
Gynaecology and midwifery . . .
10
Radiology . . .
11
Officer in charge Brigade Laby . . .
12
Mental diseases . . .
4
Anaesthetics . . .
4
Total
91
46
Duties of the Military Medical Services.
Paras. 232-34.
Officers appointed to the charge of cantonment hospitals or dispen
-
saries.
232. Appointment and duties.—An officer of the R.A.M.C. or
I.M.S. may, subject to the sanction of the A.D.M.S. district or inde
- p e n d e n t b r i g a d e , b e a p p o i n t e d b y a c a n t o n m e n t a u t h o r i t y t o c h a r g e
of a cantonment hospital or dispensary. The appointment of medical
officer to a cantonment hospital or dispensary will be held as an addi
- t i o n a l c h a r g e a n d t h e m e d i c a l o f f i c e r s o a p p o i n t e d w i l l a l s o p e r f o r m
his ordinary duties as a military medical officer.
The special duties of a medical officer in charge of a cantonment
hospital or dispensary are laid down in the Cantonment Act.
3. DUTIES OF MEMBERS OF THE INDIAN MEDI
CAL DEPART-
M E N T
2 3 3 . G e n e r a ld u t i e s . — M e m b e r s o f t h e I . M . D . w i l l p e r f o r m s u c h
duties as may be assigned to them; and for which their position and
training fits them.
They will not, without the authority of the officer in medical
change of the unit, treat cases of sickness amongst officers, warrant
officers, N.C.Os. and men in barracks or quarters.
When no officer is present the senior assistant surgeon or sub
- a s s i s t a n t s u r g e o n o f t h e I . M . D . o n d u t y i n t h e B . M . H . o r I . M . H . a t
the time will be responsible that the duties therein are conducted in
accordance with orders.
Sub-assistant surgeons will afford medical aid to the families of
Indian troops and followers in their quarters.
1.
Sub-charge of military hospitals.—The senior assistant sur-
-geon or sub-assistant surgeon of the I.M.D. will be placed in sub
-charge of the military hospital, British or Indian, to which he is attach
ed for duty.
(i) He is responsible to the O.C. hospital for the correct performance
of the duties in relation to the following :—
Sanitation of the hospital and vicinity.
Working of the kitchens and preparation of diets, lighting, warm
-ing, water supply and laundry arrangements.
Office routine including the submission of reports and the train
-i ng of members of t he I. M. D. i n offi ce work.
Charge on behalf of the O.C. hospital of all medical,
s u r g i c a l
and M.E.S. equipment and stores and for routine procedure
in the event of breakage, damage or loss of these.
Supervision of the duties of other members of the I.M.D. doing
duty in the hospital.
Duties connected with the I.H.C. and other subordinate personnel
attached to the hospital.
47
Paras. 235-36.
Duties of the Military Medical Services.
(ii) He will be responsible to the 0.0. the hospital that the duties.
are conducted in accordance with routine orders and that discipline
and regularity is maintained.
NOTE—In hospitals where members of the military nursing services are employed.
he will in no way be relieved of full responsibility for discipline but will be careful, in
arrying out these duties not to interfere with those assigned to the matron and nursing.
establishment.
235. Assistant and sub-assistant surgeons " doing duty."—A
member of the I.M.D. will be placed in sub-charge of a ward or wards-
or of special departments of the hospital and will carry out the orders-
of the officer in. charge of the ward for the treatment, dieting, etc.
of the patients.
He is responsible to the officer in charge of the ward :-
(i) for the general cleanliness and condition thereof.
(ii) that the ward and the patients are in readiness for the medical,
officer's daily visit.
(iii) that the personnel detailed for duty in his ward or depart.
ment perform their duties efficiently.
(iv) for the discipline of patients and personnel.
He will report without delay to the orderly officer of the
hospital all cases of serious illness.
He will be responsible to the officer in charge of the ward or de-
partment for the maintenance of all equipment and stores, medicines,
dressings, etc., on charge of or in use in his ward and will report imme
diately any loss or damage.
He will see that patients are properly and cleanly clothed and.
will be responsible for any clothing on charge in his ward,
He will be responsible that no patient is in possession of any un-
authorised articles of clothing, etc., or of any unauthorised money
or valuables. (See para. 437, Regulations nor the Army in India.)
He will be responsible for the hospital clothing and the disposal
of the regimental clothing of any patient too ill to look after his-
clothing himself.
236. Orderly assistant or sub-assistant surgeon, British or Indian
military hospitals.—(i) The O.C. hospital will detail a member of the
I.M.D. for orderly duty. The tour of duty will be 24 hours. The
orderly assistant or sub-assistant surgeon will be available for duty
both day and night and will not leave the precincts of the hospital
during his tour of duty.
(ii) He will be present at the morning and evening roll call, and
will see the I.H.C. personnel detailed to their respective duties.
He will make a tour of the hospital kitchens and precincts of the-
hospital during his tour of duty.
(iii) He will visit the wards at intervals after hospital hours, an
d s e e a l l d e t a i n e d p a t i e n t s a n d t h o s e s e r i o u s l y i l l . H e w i l l i m m e d i a t e l y
report to the orderly officer cases of death and any emergency with
which he cannot himself deal.
48
Duties of the Military Medical Services.
Paras. 237-400-
(iv) He will perform all necessary and urgent duties towards
the sick in hospital during the absence of a medical officer or manters
of the I.M.D. in sub-charge of-wards. He will see and deal with fresh
cases reporting for admission to hospital.
(v) He will parade and see all discharged patients prior to their_
leaving the hospital.
(vi) He will in the absence of an officer or the senior member
of the I.M.D. in sub-charge of the hospital be responsible that the
hospital duties are carried out in accordance with routine orders
and that discipline and regularity are maintained.
(vii) On the completion of his tour of duty he will report in writ-
ing to the 0.C. that he has performed his duties and will record any
unusual occurrence, vide I.A.F. M-1200.
4. DUTIES OF THE MILITARY NURSING SERVICES.
237. Status.—In the absence of the officer in charge of a ward
or of the orderly officer, the assistant surgeon or sub-assistant surgeon
in sub-charge of the ward or the member of the I.M.D. on orderly
duty is in charge of the patients. Lady nurses are in these circum-
stances required to carry out the treatment prescribed. Members
of the I.M.D. will not interfere in the actual nursing of patients.
N.C.Os. and men of the R.A.M.C. and personnel of the
will carry out the orders of the military nursing services in connec-
tion with the nursing of patients.
Q.A.I.M.N.S. and Q.A.M.N.S.I.
238. General duties.—Lady nurses will perform nursing duties
in hospitals for British troops and their families, and such nursing.
supervision in hospitals for Indian troops as may be directed.
239. Duty at outstations.—When considered necessary by the
local administrative officer of the medical services, lady nurses may
be sent temporarily to any station where their services may be re-
quired, provided no extra expense to the State is incurred on account
of accommodation. The necessity for such duty at an outstation
will be carefully scrutinised in order to avoid the depletion of the
nursing services in the stations where they are generally more use-
fully concentrated. They will not be detailed for such duty singly.
They are not available for nursing members of officers' families in
quarters (vide para. 431, Regulations for the Army in India).
240. Chief Principal Matron or Chief Lady Superinterdent. Will
be responsible for keeping the service records and confidential reports
of members of the M.N.S,
She will, by frequent inspections, keep herself acquainted with
the administration of the nursing services in the various hospitals,
British and Indian.
She will be responsible that adequate arrangements are made
for the leave of the members of the M.N.S.
49
Paras. 241-46.
Duties of the Military Medical Services.
She will perform such other duties as may be from time to time
allotted to her.
241. Principal matrons or Lady Superintendents.— Principal mat-
rons or Lady superintendents are nominated to circles by the D.M.S.
in India.
They will inspect all the hospitals where military nurses are em-
ployed in their respective circles at least twice in the year.
They will submit a monthly report to the Chief Principal Matron
or Chief Lady Superintendent keeping her informed of all nursing
details. Any matter in connection with the Military Nursing Ser-
vices or with the state of nursing in military hospitals, regarding
which a principal matron considers that official action should be
taken, should be brought to notice through the usual official channel.
They will keep records of all nurses employed in their circles,
and advise the D.D.M.S. and A.D.M.S. on all matters connected with
the nursing staff.
The principal matron or matron in a station may also visit the
I.M.H. in which no lady nurses are employed to advise the O.C. on
matters affecting the nursing of patients.
Matrons or Senior Nursing Sisters.
242. Responsibilities.—The matron or senior nursing sister will
be responsible to the O.C. hospital :—
(i) for the general nursing arrangements of the hospital including
the family hospital where such exists ;
(ii) for the performance of their duties and for the maintenance
of good conduct, efficiency, and discipline amongst the lady
nurses of the nursing establishment ;
(iii) for the cleanliness and good order of the wards under the
charge of lady nurses. She will not be responsible for nursing
in wards in which lady nurses are not employed.
243. Training in nursing duties.—She will supervise the train-
ing of N.C.Os. and men of the R.A.M.C. and regimental nursing order-
lies from units in nursing duties, and will countersign R.A.M.C. Form
2 2 .
244. Reference to officer commanding.—In all cases of doubt or
difficulty she will apply to the O.C. hospital who will render her every
assistance in the performance of her duties.
245. Report to officer commanding.—When any neglect of duty
or impropriety of conduct on the part of lady nurses, other nursing
staff, patients, or visitors, come to her notice, she will report to the
O.C. hospital.
246. Confidential reports.— The matron will initiate the annual
confidential reports on all lady nurses serving under her (Appendix
XI), and forward them to the officer commanding the hospital for
disposal.
50
Duties of the Military Medical Services.
Paras. 247-54.
247. Leave.—She will in communication with the Principal Matron
or Lady Superintendent of the circle make arrangements for the
annual leave of lady nurses and will submit to the Principal Matron
or Lady Superintendent through the O.C. hospital a statement of
the arrangements made.
Sisters and Staff Nurses.
248. Responsibilities and duties.—Every sister or staff nurse in
a military hospital will be under the immediate supervision of the
matron or senior nursing sister and directly responsible to her in all
matters relating to conduct and discipline.
She will carry out such orders and instructions relative to the
treatment of the sick and ward management as she may receive from
the officer in charge of the wards, whom she will accompany on his
visits.
249. Admission of patients.—In cases of fresh admissions into
her ward the sister or staff nurse will ascertain when the patient last
had food, and see that they are not kept waiting for suitable nourish-
ment.
250. Wines, etc.—The sister or staff nurse will receive daily from
the storekeeper the wines, spirits, or malt liquors ordered for the
patients in her ward, and be responsible for their correct distribution
in accordance with the orders of the officer in charge of the ward.
251. Emergencies.—When any case of illness or accident is brought
to the ward or wards under her charge, or in the event of any acci
–dent, emergent illness, or attempted suicide occurring, she will cause
the medical officer or member of the I.M.D. on orderly duty to be
informed at once, and pending his arrival, will take such steps as may
appear to her to be necessary to meet the requirements of the case.
252. Report book.—Before going off duty each sister or staff
nurse will put in writing in the report book any notes on special cases,
or other important matters which may be necessary for the informa-
-tion of the officer in medical charge of the case and the guidance of
the sister relieving her. The relieving sister will see the instructions
regarding the patients are carried out.
253. Night duties.—Sisters and staff nurses will be detailed in
rotation for duty as night sister for a period of not more than one
month, as the matron or senior nursing sister may decide. A night
sister, before going on duty, will report to the matron or senior nursing
sister to receive instructions ; she will visit the wards frequently
during the night, and, on coming off duty, will personally submit
her written report to the matron or senior nursing sister.
254. Instruction of orderlies.—They will be held responsible for
carrying out the prescribed courses of training in nursing, and will
afford tho ordarlies ample opportunity of learning their duties
51
Paras. 255-62.
Duties of the Military Medical Services.
The Indian Military Nursing Service.
255. Matrons, sisters and staff nurses.—The duties of matrons,
sisters and staff nurses of the I.M.N.S. are similar to those of the
same ranks of the Q.A.I.M.N.S. Lady nurses of the I.M.N.S. are how-
ever not required to nurse personally any but cases of serious illness ;
in all other cases of illness their duties are to supervise the nursing
carried out by the nursing section of the I.H.C.
256. Instruction of I.H.C.—Members of the I.M.N.S. wil linstruct
personnel of the nursing section of the I.H.C. in their duties. To
assist them in the performance of this duty Appendix VII has been
drawn up as a guide.
257. Night duty.—Lady nurses may be employed on night duty
in exceptional circumstances ; not less than two nurses must be de-
tailed to perform this duty together.
Matrons and assistant matrons of military family hospitals.
258. Duties.—Matrons and assistant matrons will have care of
the equipment and will perform nursing duties as required in military
family hospitals. In stations where members of Q.A.I.M.N.S. or
Q.A.M.N.S.I. are employed military family hospital matrons and
assistant matrons will perform their duties under the immediate
supervision of the matrons or senior nursing sister of the B.M.H.
of which the military family hospital forms a part.
5. DUTIES OF THE R.A.M.C. OTHER RANKS AND MEN OF THE
I.H.C.
259. R.A.M.C. other ranks.—Will be employed in hospitals for
British troops and other medical units on such nursing and other
duties as may be directed. The duties of R.A.M.C. other ranks are
laid down in the Standing Orders of the R.A.M.C., R.A.M.C. (T.C.)
and A.D. Corps.
260. The Indian Hospital Corps.—Personnel of the I.H.C. attached
to military hospitals will be employed on duties according to their
section and class to which they belong. The particular duties of
each section of the I.H.C. are given in the subsequent paragraphs.
261. Clerical section.—N.C.Os. and men of the clerical section
are detailed to B.M.Hs. and I.M.Hs. for duty as clerks and will per-
f o r m s u c h d u t i e s i n r e g a r d t o h o s p i t a l c o r r e s p o n d e n c e a n d h o s p i t a l
records and the filing thereof as may be directed.
262. Nursing section.—N.C.Os. and men of this section are em-
ployed on nursing duties in I.M.Hs. and on such other duties as their
training and position fits them.
The senior nursing N.C.O. in the hospital will be responsible under
the senior member of the I.M.D. for the discipline and duties of the
personnel of the nursing and general sections attached to the hospital.
5 2
Duties of the Military Medical Services.
Paras. 263-65.
263. Ambulance section.—N.C.Os. and men of this section when
attached to military hospitals may be employed on any except menial
duties for which the O.C. hospital considers them fitted, e.g., as sen
tries, messengers, or for duty as extra nursing orderlies in the wards.
264. Stores section.—N.C.Os. and men of this section are detailed
to military hospitals for duties in connection with hospital stores
and equipment other than medical and surgical stores and equip-
ment.
The senior storekeeper, N.C.O. or orderly of the stores section
of the hospital will be responsible
( i ) f o r t h e r e c e i p t , c u s t o d y , c a r e a n d i s s u e o f r a t i o n s , d i e t s
and extras, clothing, fuel, oil, bedding and such other
ordnance and supply stores as may be on charge.
(ii) for the maintenance, compilation, and correctness of all
ledgers, returns, vouchers and expense books in relation
to his duties and for their submission to the O.C. hospital
for his countersignature.
(iii) for the preparation of assessments for issues on payment
and for personal charges against patients, personnel of
the hospital or others for loss or damage to the articles
of stores or equipment in his charge.
265. The General section.—Personnel of this section attached to
military hospitals are employed on menial duties according to the
class to which they belong—cooks, washermen, watercarriers, sweepers,
etc.
53