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130
North-Eastern Hospital.—It will be remembered
that in 1891, the Managers having resolved to acquire the
site (at Tottenham) whereon the North-Eastern Hospital now
stands, the Local Government Board refused to sanction the
purchase. In announcing their decision, the Board stated
that they " fully realize that whatever site may be selected
by the Managers for hospital purposes, some opposition may
be expected." They did not, however, state any ground for
their decision, which was due, doubtless, to the fact that they
had "received many representations against the erection of
a fever hospital on the site in question." Nevertheless, after
a very formal local inquiry, they assented to the renewed
application by the Managers, made in the middle of 1892,
for permission to acquire the site on the terms of the provisional
contract entered into in 1891. The hospital was erected
forthwith and opened in October 1892. It has proved of the
greatest utility. The Board in the first instance restricted
the user of the site for hospital purposes to a period of twelve
months, but on the representations of the Managers, and after
a local inquiry, held before the expiration of the said period,
they removed this restriction. The site was subsequently
extended by the purchase from the Bethnal Green Guardians
of about fourteen acres of adjoining land at a cost of £6,000,
and the Managers have decided to add to the existing
patients' accommodation, permanent wards for enteric
fever, diphtheria, and isolation cases, as well as permanent
administrative buildings, staff quarters, and the necessary
boundary walls. At the present time enteric fever and
diphtheria cases are not received for treatment. It is proposed
to utilise part of the Bethnal Green land for the erection of
wards for these diseases, the other portion being set apart
as a patients' recreation ground. On the completion of the
new buildings, moreover, the number of beds for scarlet fever
patients will be increased.