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41
ISOLATION HOSPITAL.
This institution is situated in the Chingford Parish, and is about
three miles from the centre of our District.
It provides for 85 beds on the 2,000 cubic feet basis, and is used
mainly for the isolation and treatment of patients suffering from Scarlet
Fever or Diphtheria.
Upon occasions, bad cases of Ophthalmia Neonatorum are removed—
the mother accompanying the baby—and a few cases of Poliomyelitis
and Encephalitis Lethargica, for whom Hospital treatment could not be
obtained elsewhere, have been treated in the cubicle block.
The Staff consists of a Resident Medical Officer, Matron, twentyseven
Nurses, a Cook, Needlewoman, Storekeeper and seventeen
Maids engaged in the administrative and hospital blocks.
The Hospital is self-contained, with producer and electrical plant for
heating and lighting.
There are fifteen acres of land attached to the Hospital, five acres of
which are enclosed by a 6ft. close-boarded fence.
About eight acres are under cultivation for the production of potatoes
and vegetables used in the Hospital. A gardener and assistant are
constantly employed, and in season additional hands are taken on.
In January, 1914, a pavilion of 14 beds for the treatment of Phthisical
patients was opened. This is built on land adjoining, but separated
from the enclosed grounds of the Hospital.
The Administrative Block is not sufficiently large for the Staff
necessary when the Hospital is running at its maximum capacity, and
the block known as the "Observation Ward" of four beds has
been recently converted into eight cubicles and provides sleeping
accommodation for eight members of the Staff. This much needed
extra accommodation has been most helpful, although, by no means,
can it be a substitute for the extensions prospected in 1914.
That further hospital accommodation will be demanded by the
public in the near future is inevitable, considering the large number of
houses now in course of erection and the changed view point of our
people in the presence of infectious illness in the home.
Since the cost of building at present seems prohibitive and the
upkeep of the existing Hospital is now £13,000 yearly, compared with
£7,500 in 1914, it will be a matter of considerable difficulty to decide
on what is the best course to take—to extend the existing buildings
and provide for all cases, or give Hospital treatment to those only who
are unable to be nursed in their own homes.
The expenses incurred by those not removed to Hospital could be
met by your authority.