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58
ISOLATION HOSPITAL.
The pressure on the accommodation of the Hospital existing
at the end of 1919 continued in the spring of 1920, and again
made itself evident in the autumn and winter of 1920.
The appreciation of the work of the Hospital is shown by
the fact that 90 per cent, of the cases of Diphtheria and 89 per
cent, of the cases of Scarlet Fever occurring in this district were
removed to this Institution.
In July, 1920, the question of increasing the accommodation
of the Hospital was again considered, when I reported that the
six wards, in the Isolation Hospital (exclusive of the Convalescent
Home) had the following accommodation:—
Ward. No. of Beds. Observation.
I. 24 plus 2
II. 7
III. 4 —
IV. 10 —
V. 24 plus 2
VI. 12 —
81 plus 4
Of these, 19 are reserved for Tuberculosis cases, 02 for
Scarlet Fever, Diphtheria, etc. The 7 Tuberculosis cases can be
evicted from Block II. in case of necessity to accommodate 6
Fever cases.
The general estimate for infectious diseases is one bed per
1,000 of population. The estimated population for 1919 is 82,840
(this is the Registrar-General's estimate, and the actual population
is probably considerably in excess of this figure).
There should, therefore, be about 83 beds. The shortage is:—
83 minus 62 equals 21 beds (if 4 observation beds are not calculated).
83 minus 66 equals 17 beds (if 4 beds are calculated).
83 minus 72 equals 11 beds (if 4 beds and Block II. are both
calculated).
The shortage is not really felt unless Scarlet Fever cases
occur in large numbers, as in the winter of 1919, but it must be