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REPORT ON THE WORK AT
THE WEST HAM SANATORIA,
by G. m. mayberry, l.a.m., l.r.c.p.,
Medical Superintendent.
(a) Dagenham Sanatorium.
The institution, which was originally opened as a temporary
sanatorium, consists of permanent and temporary buildings standing
in an area of approximately seven acres. The accommodation
for male patients consists of two permanent main buildings, each
having two wards. On the hospital side there is a balcony, and
the wards are divided into one- two- and three-bedded cubicles,
to accommodate 28 patients. On the convalescent side there are
32 beds. In addition, there is accommodation for eight other
convalescent patients in two-bedded rooms, and twelve in a
temporary building. The accommodation for female patients is
in two temporary buildings, both of which contain cubicles, one
with 21 beds for hospital cases, and the other with 27 beds for
convalescent patients. There is a small balcony at the end of
each ward.
All new patients are admitted to the hospital side,
and after examination and observation, if suitable are transferred
as soon as possible to the convalescent side. This rule is strictly
adhered to, and does much to prevent patients from feeling that
their condition is incurable.
There is a large dining room for the patients, separate
recreation rooms for both sexes, a church, a concert room, a
laundry, a sputum sterilizer, disinfecting plant, an X-ray department,
and a mortuary.
Alterations. During the year 1937 several important
improvements and additions were carried out, such as a balcony
to the male hospital block, and a re-construction of the sluice and
ablution room on the female side, including the installation of a
modern bed-pan sterilizer. A recreation room for the domestic
staff was also provided. A brick building was erected adjoining
the disinfector. This building now contains a sputum sterilizer
which works under steam pressure, with boiler house and lavatory
accommodation for male staff attached. A water softener was
also installed in a self-contained building; already its advantages
are being felt.
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