View report page

34
east of London, and the sanction of the Local Government
Board was accorded to the proposal, but the Managers
afterwards rescinded the resolution, and with the approval
of the Board they have acquired about 36 acres of land,
known as the Chaseville Park estate, at Winchmore Hill,
nine miles north east from Charing Cross, on which they
propose to erect a hospital, mainly for convalescing and
convalescent fever cases; but they have not pledged themselves
to exclude acute cases, should the London accommodation
prove inadequate at any time. Whether the
Metropolis will be sufficiently provided with accommodation
for acute cases without an additional hospital, time
only can show, but there can be no doubt as to the need of
a country retreat for convalescents, such as the " Northern
District Hospital" will supply. This hospital has been
designed to provide for about 500 patients in buildings
similar to those to be erected for convalescent small-pox
cases at Darenth: but, unlike Darenth, it is intended to be
in permanent occupation, and it is expected to relieve the
pressure upon the other hospitals north of the Thames.
It is probable that the Managers will ultimately decide
upon purchasing a site for convalescing fever patients south
of the river, so as to carry out the recommendations of the
Hospitals Commission, as it is obviously neccessary, if we are
to be prepared against all emergencies, that there should be
hospitals or, at the least, sites on which to make temporary
provision for patients in the acute, and in the convalescent,
stages, and so situated, moreover, as to be accessible from all
parts of the Metropolis north and south of the Thames.
Ambulance Service. — The Hospitals Commission
recommended that "the hospital authorities should have the
entire control of the ambulances, by which all other modes
of conveyance should be as far as possible superseded." In
order to give effect to this recommendation, the Managers
have taken steps with the view of providing ambulance
stations at three of their London hospitals, powers for this