Report : 1949 / Orpington and Sevenoaks Hospital Management Committee.

  • Orpington and Sevenoaks Hospital Management Committee.
Date:
1949
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report : 1949 / Orpington and Sevenoaks Hospital Management Committee. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    14/20 (page 12)
    From the above it will be noticed that although the group provides an appreciable number of beds there has been no reference to maternity accommodation for the simple reason that no obstetric facilities exist. Before the appointed day however the then Committee of the Sevenoaks and Holmesdale Hospital had negotiated the purchase of the property Carrick Grange Hitchen Hatch Lane, Sevenoaks, complete with contents in order to provide a maternity unit. This premises standing in its own grounds of some five acres had been con¬ verted for use as a convalescent home before the war and had been taken over by the Army during the war as a convalescent home for officers. It was equipped and furnished and was undoubtedly suitable for the purpose in mind although it might prove a comparatively expensive unit to operate. Shortly before completion of the transaction a legal restriction was discovered which prevented fulfilment although both sides had agreed as to price. This purely legal difficulty was referred to the Ministry of Health who advised no further action at the time as the Ministry was prepared to use its powers of compulsory purchase contained in the Act to solve the matter. As there was no other ready alternative this advice was accepted but the exercise of the Ministry’s power has proved to be a lengthy matter for at the time of writing the compulsory purchase has not been completed. However in order to plan the necessary adaptation as a maternity unit in February, 1949, a rental agreement on a day to day tenancy basis was entered into with the owners to gain occupation ; it was apparent that immediate action had to be taken to arrest the spread of both dry and wet rot found in the fabric and to prevent further deterioration as the building was not entirely weatherproof. The necessary action was taken. When this unit is in operation it will be a most valuable adjunct serving the group as a whole. In order to assist the Committee in the day to day running of the hospitals under its control it was decided that House Committees should be set up, one for each hospital (with the exception of Otford). The thanks of the Committee are due to those public spirited persons who accepted the invitation to serve as members of such committees and so help to make the scheme a success. It was agreed that House Committees should be advisory bodies but should have complete control of the Comforts Funds which were inaugurated but the restric¬ tion imposed by the Minister as to appeals for funds have been a limiting factor in the building up of such funds. The Committee would like to take this opportunity of expressing its thanks to all who have made contributions for the purpose