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6. Hospital Accommodation.
(a) Acute Cases.—There were no major changes in 1953 in
regard to the hospital accommodation available for the inhabitants of
the Borough.
(b) Chronic Cases.—Regional Hospital Boards have asked
that Medical Officers of Health shall support when necessary on
"social grounds," the recommendations of medical practitioners for
the admission of the chronic sick to hospital. All possible help was
given when requested, and only six outstanding cases remained at
the end of the year.
The following table shows the position in regard to hospital
admissions considered and supported on "social" grounds.
No. of cases at end of 1952 awaiting Hospital admission 2
No. of new cases considered during 1953 for Hospital
Admission 26
No. of admissions to Hospital 17
No. of cases who died before admission 1
No. of cases cancelled or deferred 4
No. of cases outstanding at end of 1953 6
It is a pleasure again to record the unfailing help and considera'
tion experienced from the Senior Medical Officer (Dr. DeLargy)
at Langthorne Hospital.
(c) Maternity.—The effect of the transfer of Thorpe Coombe
Maternity Hospital to the Regional Hospital Board has, somewhat
naturally, been to restrict the admission of Walthamstow patients
who were expected to have a normal confinement other than the
first and in favour of patients from other parts of the Hospital
Group, and presumably requiring admission on obstetric and/or
social "grounds. At the same time it must be stated that no
patient booking late and requiring hospital accommodation either
on obstetric and/or "social" grounds has been refused admission
to some other maternity hospital by arrangement made at Thorpe
Coombe.
The percentage of Walthamstow residents admitted to Thorpe
Coombe prior to the appointed day was of the order of 98—99.
In 1949 it fell to 88.4, in 1950 to 77, in 1951 to 64.1 and in 1952
it rose to 75. During 1953, Walthamstow admissions were 72%.
(d) Infectious Diseases.—Since the 1st January, 1953, cases
of infectious diseases have not been admitted to Chingford Hospital.
Patients from Walthamstow are mainly admitted to St. Ann's
Hospital, Tottenham. No difficulties have been noted.