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55
MUNICIPAL AID FOR HOSPITALS.
The question of the extent of the powers vested in Sanitary Authorities to give rate-aid to
hospitals was raised towards the end of the year, by an inquiry addressed to the Local Government
Board, by a private person, whether District Councils may maintain general hospitals, or whether
the powers conferred by Section 131 of the Public Health Act, 1875,* apply only to the case of
a hospital for infectious disease? The Board replied to the effect that the powers were "not
limited to providing accommodation for persons suffering from infectious disease." Another inquiry
addressed to the Board, by a local authority, elicited the reply that it appeared to the Board to be
"competent for that body to make a contribution to the funds of an established hospital."
In several of these reports, extending over many years, reference has been made to the powers
conferred on the Sanitary Authority to provide hospitals "for the use of the inhabitants of their
district;" powers exercisable by any such authority singly, or by any two or more authorities in
combination. And especially, in connection with the question of provision for the treatment of
persons suffering from consumption, it had been pointed out that, failing action by the Asylums
Board, Sanitary Authorities, alone or in combination, could themselves provide sanatoria, the powers
conferred by the Act being unrestricted.
The hospitals in London being, many of them, in sore need of help, the above cited opinions
of the Local Government Board led me to make an inquiry into the subject as it affects the Royal
Borough, which, having no hospitals of its own, has to depend for the relief of its sick inhabitants
(other than those chargeable to the poor-rate) on outlying institutions—to what an extent is shown by
the statistics of mortality set out in the statement at page 30.
In 1902, at four of the hospitals, which might fairly be described as "local," 104 deaths of
Kensington persons took place, viz., at St. Mary's Hospital 48, St. George's 23, West London 21,
and the Children's Hospital, Paddington Green, 12. In 1903 the deaths in hospitals without the
Borough, were 179, including 97 at the four above-named, the remaining institutions, all of them
supported by voluntary contributions, being scattered over the Metropolis.
I thought it would be interesting to ascertain the approximate number of Kensington persons
benefited by the four "local" hospitals named, and by the courtesy of the respective secretaries
I was enabled to do so.
St. Mary's Hospital, it appeared, afforded relief, in 1903, to 596 Kensington in-patients, and some
7,000 out-patients, to say nothing of about as many "casualty" cases, and 350 "maternity" cases.
With respect to St. George's Hospital, the latest available information was for 1901, in which year 290
Kensington in-patients were admitted; the number of out-patients being "very large." The West
London Hospital, in 1903, admitted 186 Kensington in-patients, although 50 beds were closed from
August to December. The out-patients were estimated at 3,500. The Paddington Green Children's
Hospital received 130 Kensington in-patients (a fifth of the total admissions) and "a few thousands"
of out-patients.
The Hospital Sunday Fund estimates the average cost of an out-patient at two shillings, the
outlay on this class of cases must therefore have been very considerable.
As regards the extent of the indebtedness of the Royal Borough to these hospitals, I was
informed that the average cost of an in-patient to St. Mary's Hospital is £6 6s., and to the
Children's Hospital, £4 13s. 6d. The amount is somewhat less to the West London Hospital,
a relatively poor institution, viz., £3 17s. 6d.: to St. George's Hospital the cost is £1 15s. 6d. The
estimated cost to the four hospitals for the 1,180 Kensington in-patients, in 1903, was therefore
upwards of £7,000.
The amount of rates paid by hospitals, &c., situated within the Borough, is but little over
£300 per annum, the lion's share being paid by the Brompton Consumption Hospital, which
admitted 21 Kensington in-patients last year. As the average cost of a patient is £25, the
duration of residence being so much longer than in general hospitals, the inhabitants of the Royal
Borough were benefited by this institution to the money value of £525.†
* Section 75 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, corresponds to the Section of the Act cited. Vide page 37.
‡ The aggregate amount of rates paid by London (? General) Hospitals in 1898-99, is stated to have been £21,301. In 1903
Guy's Hospital—now in dire straits owing to the depreciation in the value of land, paid £2,952, St. George's Hospital, £875,
Middlesex Hospital, £714. The Brompton Consumption Hospital paid £270. Special consideration is shown by some rating
authorities in assessing these institutions at less than their actual annual value.