Report on the Thames Hospital.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4523, 4 July 1883, Page 3

Report on the Thames Hospital.

>-'"•' ■ [By Tbiegp.aph.j ; (fbom oub own cobreßpokdent3.) - Wbimmgton, This cloy. •> . .• Dt Grrabbam makes a long report cror the Thames Hospital, of an unfavorable character, which he concludes thus:— " Altogether there is a general want of T order, discipline, and smartness about the establishment, the appearance of which J compares anfaTorably * ith other Colonial /Hospitals. No time, should be lo*t in „.c additional accommodation for "the male patients, and this should not be ■ Ldorie by the addition-of a small room only, but "by the erection ot a large and > ,modern ward, with proper sanitary appli- •- •"■ ''•riots.* Therpetients made no complaints tone, but said that (hey were.wejl fed -S) and kindly treated. The Committee : appVar to' take much interest in: the >:": fioiipitiil* \«bieh they -inspect weekly; -I 'brol^Bn^ artieJes ■ ai/e submitted to them,^beToiri* ,beitig! condemned—no;pro- " p>r inventory, however, is kept as :'.' !ri<h should be;! p» the day .following my "inspection I again visited the Hospital, and had «he-opportunity of meeting the Committee, with their Secretary, medical • officer, and architect.- I was-pleased to i .: find them fully alive to the defects of the j building, and to the importing* of pro- •■ ' vidine, without delay, additfijwwl nccom > modation. The Hospital serves in a large ' !' and populous district, where theindnstries '' '" carried on result in many and serious acci J dents. It wquld be well to prepare plans £or a new building, which could be built / !T&j?degireeß, utilising, in the meantime, the | \\' ( present one as a large ward for, surgical ;:.,.,-oa?e», and.immediate.,necessity, and jthis •boulH be planned so as to form a par,t of an eventually. Dew establishment. I regret 1 -to I find ' that ' the subscriptions have - diroinii»Drd, and that pernons ...«•»• !the Hospital who can perfectly :r ■■• trell'afford to: pay for the services of a •; ' priviti'-medical practitioner. The Thames Befvge is'worked as a portion of. ihe. Hospital, m which its inmates, inorebTer, U&jtfftll theix 2 meal*. I have felt it my duty to inspect it. It is separated by a - „ small piece of private property from the "■-'!"j-I|Qspit»l. garden. The building is of ,; t : rwqbd well.planned and furnished, with an '' excellent broad verandah in front, and an <-: extensive garden behind this is .Welly '. cropped and cultivated by two of the. •■'■ .• icwales, and the produce utilised for the" i ,';.; Übenefit of the Hospital; in it is a good frigstye with a-sow and a litter of young 1 > pigs; they' are kept very clean, the drainage from the stye, and that from a ! ■ privy, run into a manure pit;* f<!'the'contents of which are used in the ~n' J' garden: There is also a capital storehouse. ;.^£s> n !i 'Beifoge affords accommodation for v,: :iw^««Wn,.who sleep in five comfortable 'toom*, suitably furnished, and provided „*jtb basins and water taps ; the bedsteads J> are of iron, they have flax matlrasses, and ' good clean bed clothing; there is also a .^bathroom and strw. To the left of the ': jentraijce.it an excellent sitting room, with a number of books, papers and pictures. * T*lhe~*dietary given is the same which the hospital patients are allowed, and is liberal. Every part of this small establishment is in tbe most creditable condition—bright, cheerful, and scrupulously « gfesTn; I oonld not help wishing thiisome "of th# hospital patients cofJd be exchanged for its inmates, aajhe contrast between their; respective swrroundings is roiy ; great.- A house iMfl lately been c squired on..leMe,»t Iteawai, about two thejofrn, fi»th« purpose of a fcw^WpUal,"»M. •»• Hfi*f .^"J 6" «,«** to secure the \h*M£M '-'*• The buihHftc *■ a iood teal dilapidated, but; .*«i»ir; miUb? putinhsadlorthwith;: It Larffti* iolboot fireaeresof elevated land, ItaUhful«iesa of ike aita there can be no * doubt whatever;. there are five rooms, besides a kitchVn, scullery^jlnd stQreroom, and.Vsmall conservatory^ and* a good' ««randah. Irlmve np: doubt that a very Mrttfble Hospital can be insde of thiß liij^e, a*d that it! will supply a want »oeh needed." -;, ,