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C. LOCAL SERVICES PROVIDED BY VOLUNTARY
ORGANISATIONS.
1. Beckenhatn Hospital. This Voluntary Hospital has accommodation
for 78 patients. It is the General Hospital for the
district for the treatment of acute medical and surgical cases
and is supported by voluntary contributions and charges made
to patients.
A rebuilding scheme estimated to cost £250,000 is now
under consideration.
The Hospital is staffed by General Practitioners of the
District acting in an honorary capacity. The services of
Consultants are available to any practitioner on the staff
who desires a specialist opinion on any case.
A few years ago the Hospital greatly extended its sphere
of usefulness to the community by instituting a series of
Consultant's Out-Patient Clinics at which patients can
receive the advice of a specialist.
Appointments for the Clinics must be made through the
patients' own doctors. The following types of cases are dealt
with by the Consultants :—
Monday. Dental Gynaecological
Genito-Urinary Fortnightly
Tuesday Skin Diseases Orthopaedic .
Wednesday Ophthalmic Surgical
Friday Ear, Nose and Throat Weekly Children
Psychological
Saturday — Medical
During the war, the Beckenham Hospital was the
Emergency Hospital for Beckenham and Penge, and the
majority of the severe air raid casualties were admitted to this
Hospital for initial treatment.
The Honorary Medical Staff, and the Nursing Staff did a
magnificent job in dealing with these cases.
2. The South-Eastern Hospital for Children. This is situated just
outside the Borough, but takes a great many cases from the
northern part of the area.
3. Heartsease Hospital, Woodland Way, West Wickham. This is
a special Hospital for children with Heart Disease, and is
provided by the Invalid Children's Aid Association.
D. HOMELESS CHILDREN.
There are several voluntary institutions in the district
which provide excellent care for orphans and homeless
children. These all moved away during the war, but are now
returning. At the end of 1945 the following were open or
about to re-open:—
1. St. Hilda's Home, Crescent Road, Beckenham. Originally a
home for girls, but now to be a home for babies. Organised
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