Report of the Brookwood Hospital Management Committee and copy of audited accounts : 1948-1949.

  • Brookwood Hospital Management Committee.
Date:
1949
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the Brookwood Hospital Management Committee and copy of audited accounts : 1948-1949. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Electric light was installed in all the new buildings, the Recreation Hall, Officers5 quarters, Clerk’s office, Committee room and main corridors and the electric light station was built. The new Chapel, having a seating capacity of 800, was com¬ pleted and opened in 1903, and an organ was installed the follow¬ ing year. To meet the need of additional reserve of water in case of fire a reservoir for 750,000 gallons and a pumping station with pumps capable of lifting 12,000 gallons per.hour to a height of 120 feet in the Fire Service Tower was constructed and a new Fire Station was built near the Central Boiler House. By 1906, there were 1,415 patients in the Institution and contracts were made with Oxford and York City authorities to take 40 male and 20 female patients at Oxford and 30 female patients at York. Already some 60 male patients had been transferred to other Asylums under contract. In 1907, and 1908, the engineers’ and joiners’ shops were enlarged and fitted with additional machinery all powered by electricity. Netherne Hospital was opened on 1st April, 1909, and this relieved the overcrowding at Brookwood so that the contracts with other authorities were terminated. Dr. Barton, who had been Medical Superintendent since 1882, resigned after 36 years’ service and was succeeded by Dr. J. A. Lowry in September, 1910. Electric light was fitted throughout the whole Asylum in 1911, and the gas works was closed down. The outbreak of war in 1914 caused a serious drain on the male staff as 36 men were either called up or volunteered for service in the forces. It is of interest to note that the maintenance rate at this time was as low as 10s. 6d. per week as against 12s. in 1867. By the end of 1917, as many as 87 members of the staff had joined the Forces. Ten members of the Asylum staff lost their lives on active service and a brass tablet to perpetuate their memory was placed in the Entrance Hall. In 1919, the title of the Institution was altered from Lunatic Asylum to Mental Hospital. During the war patients were received on transfer from Naps- bury and Littlemore Mental Hospitals but by 1920 most of these patients had been transferred back to their own hospitals. Consequent upon the increased cost of living due to the war and higher salaries the maintenance rate rose rapidly to 30s.per week, but by 1921 it was reduced to 21s. per week. A proposal to build 12 cottages for married staff was con¬ sidered at this time but the lowest tender was far in excess of the Architect’s estimates and the project was abandoned. Improved heating arrangements were made in male and female wards 1,