Rushden Research Group: Health - Sanatorium Report for 1936

Transcribed by Greville Watson, November 2010

Northamptonshire County Council
Annual Report
of the
MEDICAL OFFICER of HEALTH
FOR THE YEAR 1936

[Extract]

Rushden House Sanatorium

The following Report has been prepared by Dr. Crane, the Superintendent of the Sanatorium:-

“Throughout the year, 84 beds were available for the treatment of patients suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis. These were allocated as follows:- Men 35, Women 35, Children 14 (Boys 7, Girls7). Of these beds, 28 were available for acute and advanced cases.

In addition, a separate room is fitted up in the administrative block, with an emergency bed for an acute or advanced case when required. Two beds were at the service of the Tuberculosis Officer for the purpose of special treatment, such as artificial pneumothorax and gold therapy.

An average of 82.4 beds was occupied throughout the year. The London County Council kept an average of 11.2 beds occupied. There were 132 admissions (53 males, 70 females, 9 children) and 134 discharges (52 males, 73 females, 9 children). A large percentage of the adult cases admitted were of a serious and heavy type with wellmarked disease.

One patient developed tubercular orchitis and was sent to Northampton General Hospital for operation. On his return to the sanatorium he became ill with tubercular periostitis of the left tibia and fibula, which was treated in the sanatorium ; he eventually made a good recovery. Six cases were treated with gold, with good results in all except one case ; the treatment was controlled by sedimentation tests and blood counts, including the Von Borsdorff and differential leucocyte count.

One fifth of the adult patients admitted were engaged in the boot and shoe industry.

The roads and paths have been kept in good repair during the year by the County Surveyor. The gardener laid down the grounds surrounding the new block as small lawns, and this has greatly added to the appearance of the block.

Gifts

The lady who so kindly provided a new wireless set for the women’s pavilion last year, has again been most generous with gifts for the patients.

With the exception of the upper pavilion for men, wireless has now been installed in all the blocks.

A wireless set for the nurses was, through the good offices of the Chairman of the Sanatorium Sub-Committee, provided by the Rushden Social Service Committee. Books, magazines, toys, eggs, fruit, clothing, etc., have been most generously given and especially was this the case at Christmas. Grateful thanks are extended to all the donors on behalf of the Committee, medical superintendent and the patients.

Many concerts and plays have also been given and have been greatly enjoyed.

School

Women patients, including one teacher, free from infection, gave useful help in the instruction of the children.

Farm and Garden

The farm and garden have been very efficiently run by the sanatorium gardener. We exhibited Fruit again at the County Show and obtained some prizes.

General

A variety of remedial exercises and occupations are available for patients considered to be in a fit state to receive benefit from them. The cases for this purpose are carefully selected and graded by the Medical Superintendent, and all exercise and work is supervised by him.

The chief exercises and occupations are walking, gardening (including fruit growing, picking and packing), poultry rearing, pig-keeping, joinery, carpentry, painting.

Demonstrations were given in grafting of fruit trees by the County Horticulturist and in spraying of fruit trees by the gardener.

As previously, there are facilities for repair of boots and shoes, and indoor leisure such as leather work, beadwork, making of hats, toys, garments, pictures and milk pail covers. Most useful leather and picture work has been done during the year and a ready market was found for the finished articles.

A lady teacher and a male ex‑patient have been most helpful with the leather work.

For outdoor leisure, bowls, clock golf, and croquet are available.

The patients continue to give useful assistance in the upkeep of the grounds, lawns, and buildings.

It is of the utmost importance that patients, after leaving the Sanatorium, should report to the Tuberculosis Officer. To aid in this direction, the Medical Superintendent sees all patients on discharge, and, in addition, each discharged patient receives printed instructions to this effect ; (in the case of children, the parent or guardian receives these instructions). They are also advised to get in touch immediately with their own doctor.

The Medical Superintendent encourages all ex‑patients to keep in close touch with him, and it is gratifying that many do so.

In my last report I briefly outlined the contemplated scheme of development at the sanatorium, the first part of which started during the year, viz., a block for twenty patients. As certain changes have been made in this scheme, after consultation with the Ministry of Health, I briefly outline the revised scheme herewith:-

1936-1937		Erect second bungalow building in the field adjacent to the existing hospital building, to accommodate twenty patients.

1937-1938		(1) Commence erection of bungalow building to accommodate fourteen patients about the site of the present Children’s block. (2) Erect new Treatment Block about the site of the present Children’s playground, comprising a small, simple operating theatre, X‑ray room, and other accommodation necessary to enable artificial pneumothorax and other forms of treatment to be given. (3) Adapt first floor of administrative block for house staff bedrooms. (4) Kitchen improvements to be made. (5) Purchase of land and fencing in connection with these new buildings.

1938-1939		Commence erection of bungalow building to accommodate twenty patients, about site of present female block.

The suggested erection of a treatment block is an addition to the original programme, and has been adopted on the recommendation of the Ministry. The block will be erected in alignment with and between the two bungalows (each to accommodate fourteen patients) and will be joined up with these bungalows by corridors for easy and safe conveyance of patients to and from the treatment block.

The erection of a bungalow building for children has been omitted from this scheme, the Ministry having pointed out that statistics available indicated that the number of pulmonary cases of tuberculosis among children who were suitable for institutional treatment showed a marked tendency to decrease, and that it would therefore be uneconomical to erect new accommodation ; the Department emphasised that such cases as required institutional treatment should receive it at an institution in which a large number of children was accommodated, and in which it was consequently possible to make provision for their education ; and they suggested, therefore, that children should be admitted to such institutions provided by other authorities, and cease to be treated at Rushden House Sanatorium.”

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