Infectious Diseases Hospital, Crewe

INFECTIOUS DISEASES HOSPITAL, CREWE - We understand that the premiums in this competition have been awarded as follows:—First premium, Mr. Geo. Bolshaw, Southport ; second premium, Mr. E. Harding Payne, London. Sixty-three sets of designs were received. [Builder 2 March 1895 page 163]

CREWE INFECTIOUS DISEASES HOSPITAL COMPETITION - As stated in our last issue, the first premium in this competition has been awarded to Mr. George Bolshaw, of Southport, and the second to Mr. E. Harding Payne, of London, but, after inspecting the drawings, we cannot endorse the decision, as there are, in our opinion, several vital defects in the first premiated design.* The site is an irregularly shaped, approximately rectangular plot, about twice as long on the north and south sides as on the east and west. Roads are. proposed on the west and south sides. The promoters have unwisely laid stress on the provision of space for future extension, although the site is really only sufficient for an infectious hospital of the size at present contemplated —that is, thirty beds—if due safeguards are to be observed. The first premiated design shows an apparent capability for future extension superior to any other, but this is only done by first ignoring the desirable rule of a noninfected zone 40 ft. wide around the site and secondly, by making the long side of the wards face almost due south and north, instead of east and west. Thus, the scarlet fever block, although the main walls 40 ft. from the road, has its small one-bed wards projecting till they are only 24 ft. from the road, whilst the typhoid block is within 30 ft. from the site boundary, and the observation wards are 4 ft. only from the boundary, and their offices 12 ft. from the road. After the recent discussion at the Institute, and the opinions then expressed by the leading experts in hospital construction, it is almost amusing to’ find that the author of the first premiated design is sanguine enough to hope that he can build an infectious hospital for thirty patients for 5,250/., just half of the estimate of the second premiated competitor. The sub-division of the thirty beds appears to have been left to the competitors, and M Bolshaw provides for nine men and eleven women in his scarlet-fever block, four men and four women in his typhoid wards, and two beds in the observation wards. The plan of the scarlet-fever block is based on the now well-known arrangement, which gives one nurse’s duty room overlooking four wards. The typhoid wards are, of course, simple enough, and generally there is little fault to be found with the detailed arrangement of the various buildings until we come to the laundry block, where we find the discharge rooms part of the same building and next to the infected van house. After leaving the discharge rooms, the cured patient in his own clothes must pass the scarlet-fever pavilion or the mortuary on his way out. The author provides 156 ft. superficial, 12 ft. lineal of wall, and 2,028 ft. cube to each patient in the large wards; 171 ft. superficial and 2,052 ft. cube in single bed wards; and 180 ft. superficial and 2,160 ft. cube in the observation wards. No covered ways are shown between blocks.

In the second premiated design a far better general arrangement is shown on the See, in connexion with this subject, the letter and report of the assessor in the competition, printed in our correspondence column. site plan, the buildings are sufficiently removed from the boundaries, the wards have the right aspect, and space is provided for future extension, but the author rightly advises that it should only be used on emergencies for a temporary or tent hospital. The accommodation is arranged for seven men and nine women in the scarlet-fever block, five men and seven women in the typhoid block, and two beds in the observation wards. The type of ward unit adopted is the same as in the first premiated design, and all the details are well arranged. The discharge rooms are rightly made a distinct block and near the entrance, so that alter assuming his own clothes a patient would not be exposed to the chance of re-infection. The author suggests covered ways, but disconnects them where they cross, and thus effects a good compromise between the divergent views.

 We have no hesitation in expressing our opinion that the Borough of Crewe would be more wisely served by the erection of the second than of the first premiated design. The land adjoining the proposed site belongs to the Corporation, and it would be greater economy in the long run to reserve additional land for future extension, instead of committing a serious present error, to be intensified in the future.

Reference    Manchester Guardian 31 October 1895 page 10
Reference    Builder 2 March 1895 page 163
Reference    Builder 9 March 1895 page 176
Reference    Builder 9 November 1895 Page 345