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General Provision of Health Services.
HOSPITALS.
Infectious Diseases.
(1) The Plaistow Fever Hospital contains 210 beds, originally
allocated for the reception of scarlet fever, diphtheria and
enteric fever cases, with isolation beds for mixed or staff cases.
The slight incidence of enteric fever in recent years has enabled
the Medical Superintendent to receive and treat certain other infectious
cases as well as to admit special cases for teaching purposes,
including severe Measles, Tubercular peritonitis, Encephalitis
Lethargica. Cases of Puerperal Pyrexia and Puerperal
Fever can now be admitted and treated at this Hospital.
(2) The Grange Convalescent Home consists of a residential
Institution with 7 acres of grounds, together with 61 acres of
land situated at Harold Wood, being about 9 miles from the
Borough. It was opened on 22nd February, 1909, for the reception
of scarlet fever convalescents, and is capable of accommodating
CO patients.
During the coming year additional accommodation will be
provided as under:—
4 Wards each containing 20 beds.
1 Isolation Block containing 4 single cubicles.
These are one storey brick buildings, rendered with rough cast
outside.
In addition, Maids' Quarters, to accommodate 12 have been
erected ; these are 3 story buildings.
Central heating is supplied from the boiler house, and in
addition there are hospital stoves in each Ward.
Some of the old wards are beino; converted into administrative
accommodation.
Smallpox.
(3) Dagenham Smallpox Hospital, situated about 9 miles
from the Borough, occupies a site of (3^ acres, adjoining Rookery
Farm which comprises 119 acres owned bv the Council; the Fever
Hospital and Sanatorium are supplied with milk therefrom. It
consists of permanent buildings, capable of accommodating 50
patients with the administrative staff required for their care,
together with temporary iron buildings sufficient for a further 200
cases.
The agreement of West Ham with the following Authorities
to provide accommodation for cases of Smallpox arising in their
respective areas expires in March, 1932. In view of the vastly
altered circumstances since the original agreement was made in
regard to the accommodation at Dagenham, the now unsuitable
environment of the hospital for smallpox, the modification in the
mode of transport, and the enhanced difficulty of checking the
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