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Incinerator—Shewn on Plan.
Recreation grounds for convalescent patients—Shewn on Plan.,
Gardeners hut, etc.
Land—It would appear necessary to take in immediately the vacant land facing the existing
administration block for purposes of the extension suggested herein.
In addition it is advisable to purchase an additional 6 to 8 acres for extension as
the population grows and additional Hospital accommodation is required.
Powers of the Council.
The Willesden Municipal Hospital was established under Section 131 of the Public Health Act,
1875, which is as follows:—
"Any local authority may provide for the use of the inhabitants of their district hospitals
or temporary places for the reception of the sick and for that purpose may:—
Themselves build such hospitals or places of reception; or
Contract for the use of any such hospital or part of a hospital or place of reception; or
Enter into any agreement with any person having the management of any hospital,
for the reception of the sick inhabitants of their district, on payment of such
annual sum as may be agreed on.
Two or more local authorities may combine in providing a common hospital.
Cost.
The following information will give the Committee a preliminary estimate of the cost, b .t is not
a final or detailed estimate
Capital Charges
Size of Proposed Hospital 385 beds and 32 basinettes.
Size of Existing Hospital 199 beds and 14 basinettes.
Beds to be added 186 beds.
Pre.war the cost of building and equipping 186 beds including administration buildings was
usually £500 per bed or £93,000. So that at present day prices the cost of the extension proposed
will be approximately £250,000.
Maintenance Charges, including Repayment of Loan.
Under present circumstances the cost of maintenance at the existing Municipal Hospital including
repayment of loan is approximately £4 4s. per occupied bed per week. On this basis the
additional cost of maintenance of 186 beds if fully occupied would be £39,841 9 . per annum. This
figure is probably approximately correct, for although all the additional beds will not be constantly
in use, loan charges will be greater and charges for staff owing to the introduction of the 48 hour
week will be greater.
Income from the Government will be available in respect of Measles under 5, say 20 beds,
Maternity, 35 beds, Diseases of Women, say 8 beds, Diseases of Children under 5, 32 beds and Diseases
of School Children, 32 beds, or 127 in all, of which 70 are additional beds costing £15,288 per annum
and yielding an income of £7,644 per annum.
Small Pox Hospital,
The present buildings at Kingsbury are of no use for hospital purposes as no adequate kitchen
or accommodation for nurses exists.
The land is unsuitable for the erection of a Hospital or Convalescent Home which would be in
constant use on account of the difficulty of sewage disposal.
The land is suitable for the erection of a Small Pox Hospital which would be rarely in use. The
erection of such a hospital would appear to be. wasteful expenditure.
It is therefore suggested that the present site at Kingsbury be disposed of, and that a site be
obtained on which a Hospital or Convalescent Home could be erected and continuously used during
an epidemic of Small Pox for Small Pox cases, and in the long intervals between epidemics as a Convalescent
Home for discharged Hospital Patients, Residential Open Air School Children and other
suitable cases.
GEORGE F. BUCHAN,
Medical Officer of Health.