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107
Reference is first made to the views of the Royal Commission in 1882,
recommending provision of accommodation for 3,000 Fever patients.
Since then, the demand for such accommodation has increased, with the
increase of the population, to the extent of half-a-million, and by the
hospitals having been made free, and by the admission of diphtheria
cases. Notification, moreover, has brought more cases to the knowledge
of the Sanitary Authorities, and the public avail themselves more and
more largely of the facilities afforded for the isolation and treatment of
infectious disease. Ten years ago, for instance, " not more than 11
per-cent. of the scarlet fever cases of London were received into the
Managers' Hospitals. In 1892, the ascertained percentage was 50.
Having regard to these circumstances," the sub-committee say that
"the Managers should possess permanent accommodation for at least
4,500 cases of fever and diphtheria," (a number only 211 in excess of
the beds actually occupied at one time in 1892), "of which about
two-thirds should be for acute cases, and about one-third for convalescent
cases." The present accommodation, "excluding temporary
structures, and also excluding the North-Eastern Hospital at Tottenham,
is about 2,100 beds; but further land has been purchased at the
Western Hospital, on which can be provided accommodation for
about 192 beds," so that the estimated deficiency to be provided for is
2,208 beds. The sub-committee are therefore of opinion that three
"Acute Hospitals," (one in the North of London and two in the South),
"each with permanent accommodation for not less than 400 patients,
and permanent convalescent accommodation, on one or two sites in the
South of London, for not less than 800 patients, should be provided
without further delay." It is anticipated that this amount of permanent
accommodation would suffice "for all ordinary occasions ;" and,
given sites large enough, "temporary provision of a considerable
additional number of beds" could be made on the occurrence of any
serious epidemic. The sub-committee are convinced that no suitable
site for a hospital in the North can be found within the Metropolitan
area, and that "no advantage can be gained by giving up the site at
Tottenham and purchasing another site outside the area," as would
be necessary unless the Local Government Board remove the restriction,
limiting the use of that hospital within a period which expires on the
12th August next; and having regard to the pressing nature of the case,
they recommend that an application be made forthwith to the Local
Government Board "to withdraw their condition, and to sanction the
permanent appropriation of the site for the purposes of a Fever
Hospital." The sub-committee, "as a first step towards the provision
of increased accommodation south of the Thames," recommended the
acquisition of a site at Tooting. They point out that the Gore Farm
Hospital, at Darenth, which has been so largely used for convalescent
scarlet fever cases, having been provided for convalescent