On the provision of isolation hospital accommodation by local authorities.

  • Great Britain. Local Government Board
Date:
1902
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: On the provision of isolation hospital accommodation by local authorities. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.

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    OFFICIAL COPY. ^ ON THE PROVISION OF ISOLATION HOSPITAL ACCOMMODATION BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES. This memorandum is designed to represent to those who are responsible for the health of communities the importance of providing hospital accommoda- tion for the isolation of cases of infectious disease, and of doing so before the actual invasion of their districts by such disease. It is further intended to indicate to local authorities, more especially to those of districts of small or moderate size, the means by which they may most advantageously make such provision. Some general principles to be held in view by all authorities who propose to provide, by means of loans sanctioned by the Local Government Board, isolation hospitals for their districts will be set forth in the course of the memo- randum. Those in italics are points which the Board regard as indispensable. The provision of hospital accommodation for cases of infectious diseases is to be regarded primarily as a measure of sanitary defence, for the protection of the public against the spread of these diseases. It is true that such accom- modation incidentally serves other useful purposes. Thus, it is frequently of value for the relief of individuals suffering from infectious disease, whose sufferings may be alleviated and their recovery promoted by affording them better accommodation and attendance than they are able to obtain at their own homes. Or it may be the means of avoiding serious inconvenience and pecuniary loss, as when infectious disease breaks out in a school, a lodging house, or a place of business. But, nevertheless, the most important function which such a hospital serves is that of the isolation of the first cases of infectious disease with a view to preventing its further spread in the household or locality invaded. In order that a hospital may fulfil this function it is essential that it should be in readiness beforehand. Experience has shown that on the invasion of an epidemic, a hospital, even of a temporary kind, can seldom be provided and got ready for use until the time when it would have been of most service is past. The accommodation, moreover, v/hich is required when an epidemic has become established is on a larger scale than would have sufficed for the isolation of the first cases ; and hospitals hurriedly erected during the stress of an epidemic are never satisfactory in construction or suited to the permanent needs of the- district. An isolation hospital being intended primarily for the protection of the public at large rather than for the benefit of individuals, it is undesirable that admission should be subject to restrictive charges and conditions which may tend to prevent the use of the hospital by the poorer portion of the community ; that is to say, by those who have the least facilities for isolation and treatment at their own homes. In some districts, however, e.g., at health resorts, it may be advisable to provide special accommodation of a superior kind, such as private wards, for persons willing to pay for it. LONDON: PRINTED FOR HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE, By darling & SON, Ltd., 34-40, Bacon Street, E. And to be purchased, either directly or througli any Bookseller, from EYRE & SPOTTISWOODE, East Harding Street, Fleet Street, E.G., or OLIVER & BOYD, Edinburgh; or E. PONSONBY, 116, Grafton Street, Dublin. 1902. Price One Penny. 11644—6000—4/1902 Wt 1490 D & S 19 30 APR. 1929