Annual report for the year 1914 : (17th year of issue) / Metropolitan Asylums Board.

  • Metropolitan Asylums Board (London, England)
Date:
1915
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Annual report for the year 1914 : (17th year of issue) / Metropolitan Asylums Board. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    poor of the metropolis. The Order also provided under section 10 of the Pauper Inmates Discharge and Regulation Act, 1871 [34 & 35 Vic., c. 108], that the Managers of the Metropolitan Asylum district should be the Managers of the new district. Prior to the issue of this Order, every metropolitan board of guardians was required by the Metropolitan Houseless Poor Act, 1864 [27 & 28 Vic., c. 116], to provide casual wards for “ destitute wayfarers and foundlings.” As contemplated in the Casual Paupers Order, the Local Government Board on 28 March, 1912, issued the Metropolitan Casual Wards (Transfer) Order, 1912, transferring to the Managers on terms prescribed therein those of the casual wards provided under the Act quoted, which it was proposed to continue. The effect of these two Orders was to centralise the control under the Board, from 1 April, 1912, of most of the casual wards administered prior to that date by the separate boards of guardians. In connection with the casual wards the Board has undertaken the management of a scheme for dealing, in co-operation with the police and voluntary agencies, with the homeless poor at night. (mi.) Summary of duties. The work of the Board now includes the administration of the following institutions :— Infectious diseases—fourteen hospitals (part of one used as a sanatorium for tuberculous patients) for smallpox, scarlet fever, diphtheria, enteric (or typhoid) fever, typhus fever, measles, whooping cough and puerperal fever (with arrangements for dealing with plague and cholera) ; and bacteriological establishments. Sanatoria for tuberculous patients (National Insurance Act, 1911- 1913)—two institutions and part of another. Accommodation, 8,809 patients, 3,500 staff. Mentally defective—four asylums for imbeciles, including infirmary for aged patients, two industrial colonies for improvable imbeciles and feeble-minded. Accommodation, 8,477 patients, 1,630 staff. Children—one hospital for sick children, three seaside sanatoria and homes, one home for ringworm and other skin diseases, two ophthalmia schools, and one training ship, with sea-going tender. Accommodation, about 2,000 inmates, 750 staff. Casual poor—twenty-one (14 closed) casual wards for homeless poor ; homeless poor night office. Accommodation, 1,568 inmates, 80 staff. Ambulance service—seven ambulance stations, three riverside wharves, with motor ambulances and ambulance steamers—150 staff. Central stores—for reception of goods and their distribution to the various institutions. The principal branches of the Board’s work are conducted and controlled by the five central committees, the Hospitals, Asylums, Children’s, Sanatorium, .and Casual Wards, carrying out the duties delegated to them by the Board. The other central services are similarly organised by the Finance, Contract, Works, and Ambulance Committees, while the training ship Exmouth is managed by a smaller separate committee. The General Purposes Committee consider questions of general policy and principle; the Law and Parliamentary Com¬ mittee deal with parliamentary and legal business affecting the services administered by the Board or touching its interests, and the Statistical Committee are responsible for the statistics and publications.