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Further careful thought and much time will need to be given
to the problem before the question can be finally settled as to the
best manner in which the beds at the various institutions should be
allocated. (An arrangement to prevent cases being driven from
one institution to another unsuccessfully seeking admission, needs
prompt settlement.) The ultimate object to be aimed at would
appear to be a complete scheme worked in an economical and efficient
manner, and which should entail:—
(a) That every man, woman and child in the Borough may
obtain prompt and efficient treatment, institutional or otherwise,
for any sickness or disability, and that necessary treatment should
not remain unavailable to any person on account of economical,
social or environmental reasons.
(b) That all proved methods for the prevention of disease and
ill-health (including general hygiene, protection of food supplies,
etc.), shall be practised.
(c) That measures be taken to ensure that any relevant
material accruing from such a scheme be made available to a recognised
Authority in research work.
Important points which might well be provisionally considered
in conjunction with Sections 5† and 13† of the Act are:—
Maternity and Child Welfare.
(1) The advantage or otherwise of building a maternity hospital
rather than having beds, as now, scattered in several separate
and different institutions.
(2) The need of a convalescent home for babies and children.
(3) The necessity for a trained midwife to be in attendance
on every case of confinement.
Tuberculosis.
(1) The policy as to the advisability of all suitable adult cases
of Tuberculosis being treated in one institution (at Dagenham or
preferably Langdon), thus relieving some eighty beds at Whipps
Cross Hospital for acute hospital cases.
(2) The practicability of boarding-out verv voung children
of Tuberculous patients during their time of most liable susceptibility
to infection from the parent (this plan has been successfully
carried out in some parts of France).
(3) The difficulty of those tuberculous parents who are unable
to enter a Sanatorium for treatment owing to not being in a
position to arrange proper provision for the welfare of their children
during their absence.
(4) The value of day colonies or some definite after-care
scheme for post-sanatorium cases.
(5) The establishment of a hospital block or wards for cases
of surgical Tuberculosis.
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