Annual report for the year 1912 : (15th year of issue) / Metropolitan Asylums Board.

  • Metropolitan Asylums Board (London, England)
Date:
1913
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Annual report for the year 1912 : (15th year of issue) / Metropolitan Asylums Board. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    17/422
    Discharge and Regulation Act, 1871 [34 & 35 vie., c. ios], 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. lie], to provide casual wards for “ destitute wayfarers and foundlings.” As contemplated in the Casual Ward Order the Local Government Board on the 28th 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 the 1st April, 1912, of twenty-four casual wards hitherto administered by the separate boards of guardians. In connection with the casual wards the Board have undertaken the manage¬ ment of a scheme for dealing in co-operation with the police and voluntary agencies with the homeless poor at night on the Embankment and Central London area. (vii.) Summary of Duties. The work of the Board now includes the administration of the following institutions :— Infectious cL’se&ses—fourteen hospitals (one in temporary use as an asylum for imbeciles and part of another 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 ; also sanatoria for tuberculous patients (National Insurance Act, 1911)— one institution and part of another (temporary). Accommodation, 8,611 patients, 3,100 staff. Mentally defective—four asylums for imbeciles, including infirmary for aged patients, and two industrial colonies for mental defectives. Accommodation, 8.329 patients, 1,530 staff. Children—two hospitals for sick children, three seaside sanatoria and homes, two ophthalmia schools, and one training ship with sea-going tender. Accommodation, 4,157 inmates, 960 staff. Casual 'poor—twenty-four casual wards for homeless poor ; and homeless poor night-office. Accommodation, 1,648 inmates, 110 staff. Ambulance service—eight ambulance stations, with motor ambulances, three riverside wharves, and five 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 four central committees, the Hospitals, Asylums, Children’s 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 Committee 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.