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67
The first two wards filled directly, and as more accommodation
was necessary, the Chairman authorised the addition of
a sanitary annexe to the second block, in order to enable a
further five cases to be taken.
This meant strenuous work by the Surveyor's staff, who
were working on Sunday, and up till dinner time on Christmas
Day.
I should like to place on record my appreciation for the
way they got through the necessary work in order to enable
the patients to be admitted at the earliest possible moment.
These extra cots were soon filled, and we have been continuously
full ever since.
We have had to discharge 17 patients owing to pressure
at Mogden. This has meant that whenever the call for beds
has come, I have had to arrange for the removal of such cases
as could best be dealt with at home, mainly on the grounds of
lack of overcrowding.
During the last week, however, the pressure has been such
that I have had to send out into crowded homes, children who
were not yet fit to be up.
In two cases I have had to send out children whom I could
not certify as free from infection, but they were over the acute
stage of their illness, and were isolated at home.
It should be understood that this is a serious anxiety,
in that if not properly handled at home, there is the possibility
of complications arising which may have serious results.
I think, however, that it is far more important to have the
children in Mogden during the acute stage of their illness, and
for that reason I am making room in Dockwell. When an
emergency case of diphtheria occurs, I have to sort out at Dockwell
the patients I think fit to send home, and inform the