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GENERAL PUBLIC HEALTH
SHORTAGE OF HOSPITAL ACCOMMODATION
During the year the Regional Hospital Board honoured their
promise made to representatives of the Boroughs of Ilford, Dagenham
and Barking in the summer of 1956 that they "would continue
to give earnest consideration to the problem of the lack of hospital
accommodation in the Ilford, Barking and Dagenham areas," and
below is given a summary of the proposals made for the development
of hospital facilities in Barking viz. at the Barking Hospital:
Short term development
1. Improvements to existing theatre suite.
2. Improved X-ray facilities.
3. Adaptation of West Wing of Ross Ward to provide 16
acute beds (at present used for recreation).
4. Change function of Jenner Ward from 'chronic sick to
' general medicine.'
5. Bring Paget Ward into use for acute work (at present
houses clinics).
6. Provide new physiotherapy department (to release East
Wing of Ross Ward).
7. Adapt East Wing of Ross Ward to provide 12 acute beds
(see 6).
8. Improve Upney Clinic building to provide temporary
consultative out-patient facilities.
9. Extend pathological laboratory—in particular to provide
waiting facilities for patients.
Long term development
1. Extend to provide 300 bedded general hospital (including
any additional maternity beds required).
2. Provide major out-patient department, casualty and
ancillary departments and services."
HEALTH EDUCATION
During the year every effort was made to give publicity to
such matters as prevention of lung cancer and the need for safety
in the home.
It is unfortunately true, however, that at the present time
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