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35
SECTION II.
GENERAL PROVISION OF HEALTH SERVICES IN THE
AREA.
Hospitals Provided or Subsidised by the Local Authority
or County Council.
1. Tuberculosis.—In 1914 the Council erected a pavilion of
14 beds for Tuberculosis patients, on land adjoining the Isolation
Hospital in the Chingford Area. Since then, by arrangement with
the County Council of Essex, these beds have been continuously
in occupation by patients of the pulmonary type, until mid-year
1923, when surgical cases were admitted.
2. Maternity.—Many unsuccessful attempts have been made to
establish a Maternity Hospital and at the present moment an application
is before the Ministry for sanction to purchase a House considered
suitable for this purpose.
3. Children.—Apart from the General Hospital already referred
to the Voluntary Child Welfare Society has established six beds
for the treatment of children suffering from developmental defects
and malnutrition. The Council contributes £50 yearly and any
children sent there for treatment by me are paid for at the rate of
thirty shillings a week.
4. Infectious Disease.—The Isolation Hospital provided by the
Local Authority and situated without the Area is referred to on
page 60. In addition two beds are retained by the Local Authority
for the treatment of cases of Typhoid and these have, so far, been
quite sufficient for the purpose.
5. Small Pox.—No provision has yet been made for the treatment
of patients who may contract this disease. In 1902 the
Council paid a large sum to West Ham, and up to the year 1919
also paid yearly a retaining fee of £100 to ensure treatment for
patients from this Area at the Dagenham Hospital.
These sums have been largely wasted and the Council refused to
enter into a later scheme formulated by West Ham, primarily from
a feeling that the original agreement when entered into was considered
to be permanent, but mainly owing to a belief that the
County Council of Essex is the Authority which can adequately and
economically provide for the Metropolitan Areas of the County such
a Hospital under the Isolation Hospitals Act of 1893.
There is no Institutional provision made by the Authority for
unmarried mothers, illegitimate infants and homeless children.