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judiciously suggested for the consideration of the Managers the
desirability of an endeavour being made to secure an additional
site, to the west or south-west of the metropolis, which would be
available for an additional hospital for convalescent small-pox
patients, in view of the probable exigencies of a serious epidemic,
and taking into account the requirements of London as a whole.
Fever Hospital Accommodation.—The Royal Commission
recommended that there should be sites and buildings which
could be made capable of receiving 3,000 fever patients. "Of the
3,000 cases those in the earlier stages, probably about half, should
be provided for in the near neighbourhood of London; the other
half—the convalescents—in two or three country hospitals."
The beds now available for treatment of fever cases at the five
existing hospitals are about 936, the recommendation of the
Commission, that these hospitals should "become in the main fever
hospitals," having been carried into effect. These hospitals, the
Commission thought it probable, would, "with the aid of another
hospital which appears to be indispensable for the east of
London, fully accommodate all the cases requiring London
treatment."
The Managers resolved, in the first instance, to give effect to
the recommendation to provide another hospital for the 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accorded to the proposal, but the Managers afterwards rescinded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 are at the present time erecting a hospital,
mainly for convalescing and convalscent 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 Hospital" will supply.
This hospital has been designed to provide for about 500 patients