Mexborough and Swinton Times April 5, 1913
Conisborough Hospital
Proposed Alterations and Additions
The Increased Population.
Local Government Board enquiry at Doncaster. Mr. Miles B. Arnold, an inspector of Local Government Board, held an inquiry at the Union offices, Doncaster, on Wednesday morning, into the application of the Doncaster and Mexborough’ Joint Hospital Board for sanction to borrow for the purpose of alterations and additions at their isolation hospital at Conisboro’.
Those present included Mr. J. H. Watson, Mr. J. Clayton (Mexborough’). Mr. H. Baker (Conisborough). Mr. H.M.Marshall (Clerk to the Board), Mr. F. Hawksworth (representing the Clerk to the Thurnscoe Council), Mr. P. Robinson (architect), Dr. Dunne (County Medical Officer) Mr. Holmes (C.C. Inspector), Dr. W. J. McClure (Medical Superintendent at the Hospital), and Dr. W. Malcolm (Medical Officer of Health for Thurnscoe.)
Clerk’s Statement.
It was stated that by the Doncaster and Mexboro’ Joint Hospital Order, 1900, the urban district of Mexboro’ and the rural district of Doncaster were formed into a united district, to be called the Doncaster and Mexborough Joint Hospital District, for the purpose of the provision, maintenance, and management; for the use of the inhabitants of the constituent districts of a hospital, or hospitals, for the reception of cases of infectious disease. At the time of the said Order, the urban district of Mexborough had an estimated population of 10,200, and the rural district of Doncaster an estimated population of 26,657. The Joint Hospital Board was framed, and its first meeting was held on the 26th September, 1900. The Board had a temporary hospital for isolation and treatment of of small-pox and a now brick tip-to-date hospital for other cases of infectious disease.
The two sites were purchased for the sum of £1,387 10s. The new hospital was erected at a cost of £15,000. The outstanding loans on 31st March last amounted to £11,708 8s 8d, which was made up of two separate loans amounting to £1.065 and £10,328 8d 8d respectively. On Bth January, 1908, the County Council of the Wen Riding of Yorkshire made an order constituting a portion of the parish of Thurnecoe, a parish then comprised of the rural district of Doncaster) as urban district, which was confirmed by the Local Government Board Confirmation Order, 1908.
The population of the joint Hospital district was:
Doncaster Rural: census 1891, 22, 905; census 1901, 27,890; Census 1911 37,567
Contributions 11/18th
Mexborough Urban: 7077, 10,417, 14,397; present estimated population 15,200
Contributions 4/16th
Thurnscoe Urban: Census 1901, 2968, 4,076, 1/18ths
Bentley And Callum Census 1911, 6,487, 8,750, 2/18thd.
The representation was on account of the contributions, the chairman of each constituent authority as an ex officio member.
Statistics continue:
On several occasions the hospital had been overcrowded, and it had been necessary to remove convalescent patients to the temporary buildings at Butterbusk, held in reserve for smallpox cases. The population of the district was going on by leaps and bounds and it had been found necessary to increase the accommodation to meet the requirements of the increased population.
When proposing to make the additional provision, the joint Hospital Board had before them the increase in certain areas of the joint Hospital district, and considered the net advisability or otherwise of erecting a hospital near to the district where the population is rapidly increasing, to save the journeys to Conisborough with patients in the more distant parishes. Consideration was also given to the advisability or otherwise of annulling the present Joint Hospital Order, and in the urban district provide for themselves, the present hospital being left for the rural district alone.
The urban district did not desire to sever themselves from the Joint Hospital district, and it was considered unwise, even if possible to erect a branch hospital in another part of the district, firstly, because then in advisability to erect hospital in a populated district; secondly, the Board recollected a difficulty 14 years ago to obtain a site when one was much needed for the present hospital buildings; and thirdly because of the additional expense in the provision of additional administrative buildings and offices that would be required in connection with a separate building and branch hospitals. It was also born in mind that the present hospital site was 7 acres in extent, and was purchased with the intention of be prepared for an increased population, and erection of additional outbuildings, as now was proposed.
The Board, therefore, invited competitive plans, and after 12 competitors desire Mr Percy Robinson and Mr W Alvin Jones, of Doncaster was accepted. The number of beds in the old hospital was 36, and it was proposed to erect 18 on the new pavilion.
The Cost
the Surveyor, in reply to the inspector said all figure for the administrated lot was £486 1s 8d, one new ward block £2,443 2s 6d, extension to typhoid pavilion £721 2s 6d, extension to the scarlet fever pavilion £448 1s 6d, stables and cart shed £346 1s, ordinary block £162 10s 0d, drainage hundred £84, raising of the engineering block £92, furnishing £200, road making £36 clerk of works £100, costs of raising the loan £32, contingencies £100.
The Inspector: If the architect a salaried official of the board?
Mr Marshall replied in the negative, and added that the sum of £50 have been paid to the architect for the preparation of the plans.
The Inspector: What district is this in?
Mr Marshall: in the parish of Conisborough and the rural district of Doncaster. The site is 7 acres, one rood in extent.
Is that all fenced in now?
There is a little triangular plot outside the wooden partition, which also belongs to the site.
No Bad Effect
What is the effect upon the stability of the building by undermining?
The building has not suffered at all through undermining.
You have had no bad effect?
None whatever. The building is supposed to be on a rocky foundation, and the workings of such depth that it would be impossible to effect it.
The question was raised?
Yes, by Doctor Sweeten.
Proceeding, Mr Marshall said the water supply was by roof water in the water supply the rural District Council is also laid on. The roof water was used for mixing with water in the boiler for laundry purposes. It was not used for domestic purposes. The drinking water was supplied by the Colliery Company from a borehole and conveyed to the reservoir.
Dealing with the assistance of the hospital some parts of the district, Mr Marshall said it was proposed to obtain a horse ambulance, and no proposal for an additional hospital away from this building would be necessary.
In 1890 the population of the district was 36,000, and the board provided 36 beds. A year ago when this enlargement was under consideration, it was found that the population of the rural area exactly fitted with the original population of the old district, and the Board went so far as to consider whether it would be wise to ask the Local Government Board to know the constituting order and to give those districts which had obtained urban powers and opportunity of scheduling themselves and erecting a hospital on the northern side, the board 30 along with the present scheme and enlarge the existing building. It was supposed to extend the repayment of the loan over 30 years.
Mr P Robertson, the actor, supply particulars, and said it was proposed to provide 16 beds.
In reply to question our Mr Holmes (C.C. Inspector) he said that the new pavilion could be extended, but he did not think it will be advisable after it had been built. The better way would be to provide a new block.
Increasing Population.
The question of the increasing population having arisen, Mr J.H.Watson, C.C. said he did not think there was any objection to a small addition to the proposed building at the present time, but he pointed out that the increase in the Askern or northern side was growing so rapidly that there would be sufficient population for a new area altogether.
The development of the district has been so sudden, and of the future spoken of so far distant that the circumstances arising between now and then would create quite a different set aspect of affairs, and when the district grew there will probably be several urban district created, and then that would be the time to talk about the provision of an additional hospital, and for the varying order. The Board has not lost sight of this and if the inspector thought it necessary to advise the Local Government Board then another couple of beds should be provided that could be done. The future spoken of would take care of itself.
The enquiry then closed and the Inspector intimated that he would visit the hospital.