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32
SMALL-POX HOSPITAL ACCOMMODATION.
Since January 31st, 1907, the Middlesex Districts Joint Small Pox
Hospital has been in existence at South Mimms. We must rejoice that,
although precepts have been made on the Edmonton treasury, no patients
from the District have been sent there yet. The money (£402 for 1908) is
a premium for an advantageous insurance.
Feltham Urban District joined the Board on 1st August, 1908.
In addition, the Council still have the administrative block of the Small
Pox Hospital at Clavering's Farm, erected in 1902, where, at the shortest
notice, accommodation of a satisfactory kind to meet an emergency could be
arranged for ten male and six female patients.
A neighbouring District, towards the end of the year, suggested to the
other constituent Authorities that the Hospital, which has been fortunately
without patients since its opening in January, 1907, might be utilised for
other diseases. I am glad to record that my Council, whilst anxious to keep
the maintenance expenses as low as possible, consistent with efficiency when
cases of Small Pox occur, declined to support the idea. The expense incurred
is a premium for insuring prompt and effective dealing with a dread disease
the moment a case occurs, and is, in my opinion, money well spent.
TRANSPORT ARRANGEMENTS.
The Council at present undertake the removal to our Hospital, free of
charge, in our own ambulance, of all cases of infectious disease which require
it. Separate vehicles are kept for Small Pox and for other infectious
diseases. A closed conveyance has also been provided for bringing patients
home again after their discharge from Hospital.
This arrangement is very valuable in protecting the health of children
whose parents are unable to afford a suitable conveyance when discharged from
Hospital during cold and wet weather. These conveyances are disinfected
each time after use.
At the end of October the Joint Hospital Board sent us a schedule of
questions that the Medical Superintendent suggested might be filled up by
our Transport Officer before removing the patient from his home. This
schedule contained over 30 questions. My Council replied that they were unable
to agree with the suggestion. Many of the questions were such as could
only, with propriety, be put by a nurse or medical man. Should the Board
at any time adopt our suggestion of November, 1906, that transport could
be more conveniently and cheaply and quickly effected from the Hospital, then
one of the Board's hospital nurses could always travel in the ambulance and
fill up such schedules of questions as the Superintendent may think fit to
devise. The Metropolitan Asylums Board conduct the transport of patients
in this way.