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The three chief general hospitals serving the district are : the Brook General
Hospital, with a bed complement of 644 ; the Memorial Hospital (137 beds) ; and
St. Nicholas' Hospital (255 beds). Another hospital serving the area is the Eltham
and Mottingham Hospital with 42 beds. The British Hospital for Mothers and
Babies, has at the present time a bed complement of 70 [40 at Woolwich and 30 at
Paddock Wood (Moatlands) ]. It has been necessary to adopt a system of priorities
to ensure that accommodation is available for maternity cases for whom, on medical
or social grounds, treatment in hospital is considered to be essential.
Owing to a shortage of nursing staff there has been insufficient accommodation
available for medical cases and this has resulted in overcrowding in the wards.
However, this position has been alleviated to some extent by bringing into use at
the Brook General Hospital additional beds for medical cases. At other hospitals
the full complement of beds has continued to be staffed.
Since July, 1948, three additional wards consisting of 91 beds have been opened
at the Brook General Hospital for female medical cases, male pulmonary tuberculosis
patients and male surgical cases. Several adaptations (including new X-ray and
physiotherapy departments, and new operating theatres) at this hospital are nearing
completion.
A large number of cases of infectious disease is admitted for treatment at the
Brook General Hospital. A small unit of six cots for ophthalmia neonatorum cases
has also been opened in the infectious diseases section of the hospital. Cases of
poliomyelitis are admitted for treatment at the hospital.
Approval to a proposal to build a new out-patient department at the Memorial
Hospital has been given by the Ministry of Health, and it is hoped to commence
building works during 1950. Further extensions adjacent to the Memorial Hospital
are also contemplated. Progress has been made in the purchase of suitable land
for the provision of a new out-patient department at St. Nicholas' Hospital.
Since July, 1948, it has been possible to bring a further 20 beds into use at the
hospital.
In-patients are treated for respiratory tuberculosis in all the general hospitals
in the area, the majority at the Brook General Hospital. A small number of cases
of non-respiratory tuberculosis have also been treated as in-patients. There are no
beds in the area for sanatorium or convalescent treatment, but arrangements are
made for the admission of suitable patients to sanatoria and convalescent hospitals.
In addition to the children's wards in the general hospitals, a special children's
unit at Goldie Leigh Hospital, with a bed complement of 266, deals exclusively with
dermatological diseases in children who are admitted from all parts of the country.
The majority of the major surgical work is being performed at the Memorial
and St. Nicholas' Hospitals. In an endeavour to improve arrangements for the
admission of cases of emergency, an Admissions Office for the area was opened
during 1949 and later the Emergency Bed Service took over the organisation by
establishing an area office to assist medical practitioners in this matter.
Attendance at hospital out-patient departments in the Borough has greatly
increased during the past year.
The need for further accommodation in the area for the chronic sick patient
is recognised. Orthopaedic clinics for the treatment of fractures, accident cases,
etc., have been opened at the St. Nicholas and Eltham and Mottingham Hospitals,
in addition to the clinic already functioning at the Memorial Hospital.
Hospital dental treatment is given to patients when specially recommended
by general practitioners.
Clinics under the Control of the Regional Hospital Board:—
Maxey Road, Plumstead Tuberculosis
11, Carnecke Gardens, Eltham Dispensaries.
A report on the work of the Tuberculosis Dispensaries during the year 1949
will be found on page 30.
8, Thomas Street, Woolwich Orthopaedic
35
K.I. Printing "Works (T.TJ.) Woolwich S.E.18