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" (a) That a Sanatorium is needed for the open-air treatment of poor
persons suffering from Pulmonary Consumption, in the early stages of
the disease, and should be provided by a Central Authority acting for the
Metropolis as a whole.
" (6) That the Managers of the Metropolitan Asylums Board, by
reason of their practical experience in the management of hospitals for
infectious disease, being eminently qualified for the position of such
authority, the Local Government Board be requested to confer on, or if
necessary, to obtain for, the said Managers power to act in that capacity.
" (c) That the Managers of the Metropolitan Asylums Board should
also be empowered to use, for sanatorium purposes, the 'Southern
Hospital,' recently erected by them at Carshalton, in the County of
Surrey."
That the Government be urged to provide " a sum of money annually
for the erection and maintenance of suitable Sanatoria for the treatment of
early cases of consumption."
It was also resolved " That the President of the Local Government Board be
asked to receive a deputation from the Conference in support of the above
resolutions, and that he be urged to take such steps as may be necessary to
give effect to them," and a deputation was appointed.
SANATORIUM ACCOMMODATION.
In October, 1907, Mr. Joseph Thornley, J.P., a representative of the St.
Pancras Board of Guardians on the Metropolitan Asylums Board, moved at a
meeting of the latter—
" That the Board's resolution of the 27th April, 1907, deferring for
twelve months further consideration of the question of the purpose to
which the Southern Hospital should be applied, be and is hereby
rescinded.
"That, subject to the sanction of the Local Government Board, the
Southern Hospital be opened for the accommodation and treatment of
consumptive cases in the early stages, chargeable to the Metropolitan
Boards of Guardians."
These proposals were not adopted, and in November the St. Pancras Board
of Guardians requested the Local Government Board to favourably consider a
suggestion for the Metropolitan Asylums Board to be authorised, as a
temporary arrangement, to admit into one of their Hospitals patients suffering
from phthisis. The Guardians stated that there were 134 at one of their
Infirmaries, that both Infirmaries were occupied beyond the certified limit.
On the 8th January, 1908, the Local Government Board replied that it was
inexpedient to sanction the proposal at the present time, even as a temporary
measure, as the proposal involves many questions that will have to be dealt
with by the Royal Commission on the Poor Laws, which is now sitting.