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Since that date the Council has provided M4 with 10 cubicles, bringing the total available
beds in the Hospital to 199, but at the same time they have withdrawn from use for infectious disease
purposes B Ward with 15 beds for throat, nose and ear conditions and M4 with 10 cubicles for cases
of marasmus or a total of 25 beds, leaving only 174 beds for infectious disease purposes. The Committee
are aware that the standard of beds for infectious disease purposes is one per 1,000 population
and that therefore 200 such beds are required for Willesden. It will be appreciated that with only
174 beds for infectious disease purposes the accommodation from time to time is so fully occupied that
cases which really should be admitted to Hospital are refused.
During the winter 1937-38 the Hospital has been able to admit all cases of scarlet fever and
diphtheria occurring in the district requiring removal. The prevalence of diphtheria has been above
the average and fortunately the prevalence of scarlet fever has been below the average. On the
other hand, measles has been prevalent during the winter and many applications for the removal
of cases have been made, but have been refused. The County Medical Officer, as well as a number
of private practitioners, have made application for the removal of these cases. The County Medical
Officer wrote to me in this connection on 17th February, 1938, as under:—
"Measles.
"I have been somewhat disturbed recently at the number of applications from doctors in
Willesden for the admission of Willesden infants and children to the Central Middlesex County
Hospital on account of measles. Careful enquiry has shown that either the serious condition
of the patients, or some special environmental circumstances, have rendered removal to hospital
imperative, yet, in practically all cases, the County Council's officers have been informed that
application to the Willesden Borough Council for accommodation in the Council's isolation
hospital has met with definite refusal.
"I feel sure you will agree that a general hospital such as the Central Middlesex County
Hospital is most unsuitable for the reception of cases of infectious disease, and although the
County Council has, in fact, received the patients mentioned above, it has done so at considerable
risk to the other children who are in the hospital on account of non-infectious illness, frequently
of most serious characters
"It appears to me that in a borough the size of Willesden, some facilities should be available
for dealing with serious and complicated cases of measles under suitable conditions of isolation,
and I shall feel greatly obliged if you will kindly give the matter your consideration and let me
know in due course whether your Council is able to deal with the problem."
Heating and Hot Water.
Heating is provided at the present time by the following means:—
(а) by the central boilers for some parts of the hospital;
(b) by independent boilers for the cubicles; and
(c) by electric heating for Ward E and the nurses' annexe.
Hot water is provided:—
(a) by the central boilers for some parts of the hospital;
(b) by independent boilers for the cubicles; and
(c) by gas geysers for the nurses' annexe, the dispensary and the laboratory.
The existing central boilers are fully taxed and even now do not provide the head of steam in
the laundry which the laundry requires. This means that articles have to be passed twice through
the calenders, including the last calender installed.