View report page

Tuberculosis.
Dagenham Sanatorium.
(4) Under the Tuberculosis Scheme formulated after the passing
of the National Health Insurance Act, the Council were permitted
to use Dagenham Hospital as a Temporary Sanatorium
for Adults with Pulmonary Tuberculosis but, owing to an outbreak
of smallpox at Easter, 1920, the Hospital had to be promptly
cleared of consumptive patients and revert to its primary use; a
costly and very inconvenient undertaking, as only 30 smallpox
cases were admitted. Fortunately, in 1922 the Council was
enabled to enter into an agreement with the Orsett Joint Hospital
Board, whereby the latter authority will admit sporadic cases of
smallpox, up to 22 in number, sent to their Hospital by West
Ham, thus enabling the Council to continue using Dagenham
Hospital for the reception of Tuberculosis until the increasing
pressure on the accommodation of the Orsett Hospital compels
the Council to arrange for further accommodation.
Only a very few of the cases of smallpox which occurred during
the year could be received at the Orsett Hospital, but the
London County Council continued to receive a large number of
cases, thereby greatly assisting the Council, and I should like to
place on record this kindly action. In view of the foregoing, it
was not necessary to re-open Dagenham for the reception of smallpox
cases.
The total number of beds available for cases of tuberculosis
at Dagenham is 128.
Langdon Hills Sanatorium for Children.
(5) This Sanatorium has accommodation for 40 children
suffering from Pulmonary Tuberculosis and is situated
at the Council's Langdon Hills site. The site comprises 100
acres, and is situated in one of the highest parts of Essex, overlooking
the mouth of the Thames. It is about 20 miles distant
from West Ham, and 270 feet above sea level.
Cases suffering from Surgical Tuberculosis, by arrangement
with other authorities, are treated at the Alexandra Hospital,
Swanley, Kent, and at various London Voluntary Hospitals.
Whipps Cross Hospital.
This hospital is situated within the Borough of Leyton, and
is owned by the Council.
The registered accommodation of 741 beds is for acute cases;
a few shelters for male tuberculosis cases are also available. As
mentioned in my report for 1930, this institution is still very
much overcrowded.
31