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38
ISOLATION HOSPITAL.
The Isolation Hospital, which is situated at Beddington
Corner, was opened at the beginning of March,
1899, and since that date 3,217 patients have been
admitted.
Accommodation.—At the time the Council approved
of the plans for the erection of the Isolation Hospital,
the population of the district being about 28,000, it was
thought that it would be sufficient if accommodation was
provided for '28 patients, viz., 10 Scarlet Fever cases, 10
Diphtheria cases, 4 Typhoid Fever cases, and 4 beds for
observation purposes.
In each succeeding year, however, the shortage of
beds became more pronounced, and in 1905 a very considerable
enlargement took place by the provision of an
additional Scarlet Fever Pavilion of 2'2 beds. The
hand laundry was also converted into a steam laundry,
and some additional dormitory accommodation provided
in the Administrative Block.
In 1907 and 1908 very great pressure was placed
upon the resources of the Hospital, and on many
occasions it was unavoidably overcrowded. After much
consideration, the Council, in April, 1909, decided to
apply to the Local Government Board for sanction to
considerably increase the accommodation of the Hospital
itself, and to also provide quarters for a Resident Medical
Officer. This new extension was opened in November,
1910.