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35
The Hospital is situated on a site of 500 acres, between
Wickford and Rettendon, Essex, and will eventually accommodate
1,085 patients. Administrative and other buildings are beingerected
in accordance with the plans of the complete scheme.
The whole Hospital will form a fully equipped community of about
1,500 people, and some 40 to 50 buildings will be constructed to
complete the project. The buildings will be widely spaced to
permit of the maximum amount of sunlight and to avoid that
sense of restriction and "institutional feeling" so common in
many existing hospitals. They will include the administrative
unit with its large recreation hall fitted with a stage and cinema
projectors, central kitchens and workshops, etc. There will be
a large admission unit for preliminary observation and for uncertified
voluntary patients, and this will be fitted with modern
forms of mental therapy treatment and serve as an extremely
useful research department for the whole hospital. A large hospital
unit for patients requiring medical and surgical treatment
will be provided with a section for the staff needing similar attention.
A separate closed unit for disturbed or restless patients is
provided, well to the western side of the site, which will give
privacy from the rest of the hospital. In close proximity to the
central administration unit will be found the units for quiet cases
requiring constant attention, and, on the northern portion of the
site, separate units for "parole" patients are provided separating
them somewhat from the rest of the hospital. In addition to the
actual patients' buildings, provision is made for a nurses' home,
separate houses for the medical superintendent, the resident
physicians, and cottages for the staff. A modern laundry on somewhat
new lines will be provided and there will be recreation
grounds and facilities for outdoor exercise. Later there will be
suitable farm buildings and vegetable gardens. Negotiations
were proceeding with the Chelmsford R.D.C. and the South Essex
Water Works Company in regard to the water supply, and with
the former Authority in respect of sewage disposal.
The Committee invited applications for the appointment
of Medical Superintendent of the Hospital, and R. StromOlsen,
M.D., B.Ch., D.P.M., Deputy Superintendent at
Cardiff City Mental Hospital, was appointed to commence his
duties on January 1st, 1935. It is anticipated that the selection