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39
Even with this large addition the permanent provision would
fall short of the requirements of the Metropolis, as estimated by
the Royal Commission, who were of opinion that there should be
sites and buildings which could without difficulty be made capable
of receiving 2,100, or by special exertion 2,700, patients. At the
present writing (May) the Managers are desirous of proceeding
with the erection of the hospital, but difficulties have been thrown
in the way by the Local Government Board, who, just now,
hesitate to give final approval to the Managers' proposals,
necessary to enable them to put the work in hand. It is
difficult to say whence this hesitation on the part of the Central
Board, unless it is due to the opposition raised by certain of the
local authorities against the expenditure necessarily involved in
the scheme—for not only did the Board long ago sanction the
proposals of the Managers, but they also suggested the desirability
of an endeavour being made to secure a site, to the west or southwest
of the Metropolis, which would be available for an additional
hospital for convalescent patients, having in view the probable
exigencies of a serious epidemic, and taking into account the
requirements of London as a whole.*
* Under date June 4th, and while this Report was going through the press,
the Local Government Board addressed an important letter to the Asylums
Board, considered at their meeting on June 5th, respecting the proposed
permanent hospital at Darenth. The Board state that they have carefully
considered the subject, " and are advised that the present condition of medical
opinion with regard to the construction of small-pox hospitals, and to the
number of patients whom it may be desirable to treat under one administration,
is so far undecided as to render it inexpedient to expend larger sums than may
be found absolutely necessary on structures which further experience may show
to be not wholly suited to their purpose." The Board therefore considers •' that
whatever provision is made at Darenth site for future epidemics should rather
be in the form of huts than of brick buildings." Suggestions were made with
reference to the utilization of the huts in the possession of the Managers, and
the erection of others, and the Managers were requested to give further
consideration to the subject. The Chairman of the Board naturally enough
auimadverted on the new position taken up by the Local Government Board
in advising the Managers to go back to the erection of huts after the long
experience which had been obtained as to their cost, and the difficulties of
administration under this system. Resolutions were adopted referring the
letter to a Committee, and stopping all preparation of plans, it may be
mentioned that the estimated cost of the permanent hospital is about £120.000,
and that the encampment in 1884-5 cost, in round figures, £40,000.