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48
Acute
infectious
hospitals
Grave difficulties were experienced throughout the year, owing to the shortage
of nursing and female domestic staff, in providing hospital accommodation for the
treatment of patients suffering from infectious diseases. At the period of greatest
pressure on the accommodation, only 1,450 beds (less than one quarter of the pre-war
provision) were available for patients suffering from infectious diseases. But,
fortunately, the demand for beds is substantially less than it was before the war.
The restrictions on the admissions of cases of infectious diseases, e.g., scarlet
fever, measles, chickenpox, German measles and mumps, were continued throughout
the year.
The number of infectious patients admitted during the year was 13,695.
The number of patients under treatment at the beginning of the year was 1,315.
This rose to 1,416 on 3rd April, 1946, and fell to 1,060 on 30th September, 1946.
The number remaining at the end of the year was 1,123.
Smallpox
Nine cases of suspected smallpox were admitted during the year to Clandon
Isolation Hospital, where, by agreement with the Surrey County Council, London
smallpox patients as well as those from other areas are received. Two of these
patients were finally found to be suffering from smallpox.
Typhus
Tuberculosis
hospitals
No case of typhus occurred during the year.
St. Luke's Hospital, Lowestoft, remained closed throughout the year. All
available beds in the remaining hospitals for tuberculosis were occupied, except a
number at Grove Park Hospital and St. George's Home, which could not be opened
owing to the lack of staff.
Children's
hospitals
The Downs Hospital, Millfield Convalescent Hospital, and Norwood Hospital for
Children remained closed throughout the year. Queen Mary's Hospital for
Children, Goldie Leigh Hospital and White Oak Hospital continued to provide
accommodation for children.
St. Anne's Home, Heme Bay, was re-opened on 6th November, 1946, for the
reception of convalescent children. Because of shortage of staff, however, accommodation
was available for only 35 children.
Hospitals for
epileptics
The two hospitals for epileptics (St. David's Hospital, Edmonton, and St.
Faith's Hospital, Brentwood) continued to provide treatment for male and female
epileptic patients. The number of patients undergoing treatment remained fairly
constant throughout the year.
Convalescent
hospitals
Princess Mary's Convalescent Hospital, Margate, remained closed throughout
the year. A few convalescent adult patients were sent to Queen Mary's Hospital,
Sidcup, and large numbers of male and female adult convalescent patients were sent
to voluntary convalescent homes.
Convalescent
children
The arrangement made with the Invalid Children's Aid Association under which
children for whose medical care the Council is responsible were referred to the
Association, by whom they were sent to convalescent homes, was continued throughout
the year. During 1946. 897 children were dealt with in this way.
In addition to the foregoing arrangement, the long-standing practice was
continued of accepting financial liability for the convalescent treatment of children
brought to the Council's notice by the Invalid Children's Aid Association themselves.
During the year these children numbered 927, compared with 820 in the previous
year.
Other
hospitals
The Northern Hospital, Winchmore Hill, Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup, and
Southern and Joyce Green Hospitals, Dartford, continued to serve a useful purpose
by receiving numbers of patients transferred from the other hospitals.
Venereal
diseases
Beds for patients suffering from venereal diseases were provided at Sheffield
Street, Bethnal Green and St. Charles' Hospitals.