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10
GENERAL PROVISION OF HEALTH SERVICES FOR
THE AREA.
Hospitals provided or subsidised by the Local Authority or by
the County Council.
a. (1) Fever.
Rush Green Isolation Hospital is maintained by the Romford
Joint Hospital Board, which consists of representatives
from the Urban District Councils of Dagenham, Hornchurch
and Romford, and the Rural District Council of Romford.
The building of the extensions of the Isolation Hospital
was begun in August and it is anticipated that the additional
beds will be available before next autumn.
The shortage of accommodation was greatly felt, though
relieved to some extent in the Summer months by the admission
of patients to the hospitals of neighbouring Authorities. About
two-thirds of the total Scarlet Fever patients however, remained
at home throughout the entire course of the illness.
In the last three months of the year only one in five Scarlet
Fever patients was admitted. Up to the end of the year
however, practically all patients suffering from Diphtheria were
removed to the hospital.
Of the 383 cases of Diphtheria admitted in the course of
the year, 189 were Dagenham patients, and 155 out of the 223
cases of Scarlet Fever.
Endeavours were made, without success, to obtain premises
in which to house mild or convalescent cases in order
to relieve the demand on the hospital beds.
(2) Smallpox.
The Joint Hospital Board, with other districts, has an
arrangement with the West Ham Corporation for the reception
of Smallpox cases at Orsett Hospital.
Dagenham Hospital, owned by 'the West Ham Corporation,
originally intended as the Smallpox Hospital for the area, but
now used as a Sanatorium, has not been used for the reception
of Smallpox patients. These patients, when Orsett Hospital
is full, have been admitted to the M.A.B. (now L.C.C.)
Hospitals.