Ed Kavanagh, along with Cecil Wherry and John Toman who were his nursing officers, jointly compiled the manual in 1974 because new staff were coming to the hospital from many different countries. It would have been given to a new employee to learn about the hospital and surrounding areas. This manual contains everything they would need to know if it was their first time working at the hospital.
Within its 65 pages it contains:
- Contents
- Plan of the hospital and photographs
- Introduction
- Bedfordshire Area Health Authority
- A brief history
- Departments and their functions
- Central nursing
- Induction and in-service training
- Specialist information available from the Central Nursing Office
- Rehabilitation
- School of Nursing
- Occupational Health
- Social Work
- Pharmacy
- The Supplies Organisation
- Engineering
- Hospital Transport
- Fire Prevention
- Building Dept
- Domestic Dept
- Catering Dept
- Garden Dept
- Printing Dept
- Laundry Dept
- Sewing Room
- Tailor’s shop
- Security
- General information
- Whitley Council
- Structure of the nursing organisation
- Overseas students/pupil nurses
- Notes of guidance
- Expenses
- Travelling and subsistence allowance
- Sickness leave
- Sickness benefits
- Absence from duty (domestic)
- Absence from duty (notifiable absence)
- Maternity leave
- Compassionate leave
- Study leave
- Jury Service or attendance at court as a witness
- Income tax,
- National Insurance
- Staff salaries
- Payment into bank or home address
- Employees who are sick
- Pay queries
- Extra pay
- Advance of pay
- Hospital property
- Loss of personal property (non-
resident staff and resident staff) - Staff uniform
- References (applicants and existing staff)
- List of voluntary organisations
- Staff sport and social club
- Voluntary helpers
- Staff quarters
- Hospital library, Libraries in Letchworth
- Hospital Reception Centre
- Women's voluntary services
- Religious services
- Gentlemen’s hairdressing salon
- Ladies hairdresser
- Banking facilities
- Car parks
- Notice given by hospital authority
- Cinemas
- Telephones
- Postal boxes
- Hospitals and clinics
- North Herts
- General practitioners
- Dentists in local community
- Schools in local area
- Schools in Hitchin
- Education in Letchworth
- Shopping facilities
- Buses to Hitchin and Luton
- Train timetable from Hitchin to London
- Acknowledgements
The manual contains many photographs that are reproduced below:
