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21
Expenditure on Out-relief to Croydon cases during the 12
months ended 30th September, 1930—
Half-year ended 31st March, 1930 £11,204 13 0
Half-year ended 30th Sept., 1930 £11,039 3 6
Mayday Road Hospital.
The total number of sick children on 1st January, 1930 : 75.
Admitted during the year 1930 975
Discharged or died 952
No. remaining on 1st January, 1931 98
On 1st January, 1931, the total number of beds at the Mayday
Road Hospital was 465 and the total number of inmates 543.*
*It will be noticed this number is in excess of the certified accommodation.
Extra beds are introduced as and when required, to take the excess cases.
THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT, 1929.
This Act came into force on April 1st, 1930, and constitutes
the most important enactment affecting local government passed
for many years. Among other provisions not immediately related
to public health, this Act abolished the Boards of Guardians,
whose duties passed to the Councils of Counties and County
Boroughs. In order to meet the new obligations the Councils
formed Public Assistance Committees, who undertook all those
duties of the Guardians which were not delegated to Special
Committees of the Councils.
In Croydon the delegated duties comprised the carrying out
of the Children Act, 1908, Part I., which is now done by the
Public Health Committee, as is also the carrying out of the
Vaccination Acts. In addition modified arrangements were made
in connection with Maternity, Tuberculosis, and Mentally
Deficient patients. The Council is now responsible directly
through its Public Health and Mental Deficiency Committees for
the care of these classes.
The Mayday Road Hospital has not as vet been appropriated
by the Public Health Committee under Section 137 of the
Public Health Act, 1875, on account of the present lack of accommodation.
It was felt that if appropriation was made, the overcrowding
would only be accentuated. Also, there are various
important adjustments in connection with the grouping of patients