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GENERAL PUBLIC HEALTH
SHORTAGE OF HOSPITAL ACCOMMODATION
In late 1955 you drew the attention of the Regional Hospital
Board to the lack of out-patient facilities in Barking, and subsequently
in January 1956 you received a letter from the Regional Hospital
Board which stated, inter alia:—
"The Hoard is aware of the difficulties that are experienced by
patients in the Barking area having to travel considerable distances
for certain in-patient and out-patient facilities. The position in
Barking is reviewed periodically by the Board, but it will be appreciated
that to make satisfactory provision will require capital
expendititure on a substantial scale. In the meantime the necessary
funds for najor building work of this kind are not available to
the Board
"The requirements in Barking have been specifically brought
to the notice of the Ministry of Health, and the Deputy Chief
Medical Officer of the Ministry of Health recently visited the area
to make a Survey of the possible requirements. The situation is
also well Known to the llford and Barking Group Hospital Management
Con tee, and the Board had the benefit of their views on
the subjec hen consideration was given to the points made in
your letter The Hospital Management Committee are equally
anxious the steps should be taken as soon as possible to provide
the necess facilities for Barking residents.
"The rd intends to re-examine the position again as soon
as possible as much priority as possible will be given to the
developme of the hospital service in Barking, consistent with the
other urgent needs in other parts of the Region".
Independency of this approach you, in association with representatives
of the Boroughs of Ilford and Dagenham, Local Medical
Societies and members of Parliament, approached the Board on this
matter. The Ocputation suggested that a new hospital of 800-1,000
beds was request in the area and suggested that the Board might
make special representations to the Minister for an allocation from
Central Funds of this purpose. A summary of the statement made
^ the Board to the deputation is given below:—
The deputation were informed that the Board fully appreciated
the inadequacy of the hospital provision in the Ilford, Barking and
Dagenham areas and recognised this as one of the most pressing
problems in the Region.
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