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82
REPORT ON THE WORK AT THE BOROUGH
INFECTIOUS DISEASES HOSPITAL FOR 1931.
Dr. Barker reports as follows:—
The year 1931 will be remembered in the history of the
hospital as a year of transition, a period during which this Institution
hav ing provided good service for a number of years, passed
from a state of inadequacy both in size and structure to that of a
modern well equipped hospital for the treatment of the various
types of infectious disease.
Although the two new ward blocks were practically completed
by the end of 1930 the real difficulty commenced with the
demolition of the old administrative buildings. The necessity for
housing the nursing and domestic staff and at the same time
maintaining the work of the hospital efficiently, called for no little
ingenuity and resource.
Additions and reconstructions were taking place simultaneously
during the earlier months of the year in various parts
of the Institution causing much makeshift and inconvenience, but
such was met with a cheerfulness, goodwill, and devotion to duty,
as was only to be expected of the staff.
As will be seen later by a description of the completed hospital
the scheme was one of considerable dimensions. It must be
evident that a great amount of careful technique and foresight
on the part of those responsible, and the Borough Engineer's
staff, was required to ensure satisfactory, economical, and easy
administration.
The equipping of the newly constructed wards and operating
theatre, the furnishing of the new administrative building and
Nurses Home with its 100 rooms, was by no means a simple task
and involved infinite detail.
Much labour has been expended in improving the grounds of
the hospital—nearly two acres of grass seed have been sown,
numerous flower beds and paths provided with the result that the
general appearance is now in conformity with that of similar
hospitals placed in more advantageous surroundings.
Machinery formerly in use in the Laundry for many years has
been replaced by the latest type of equipment.