Red Tape
Hospital for Consumptives

The Clerk read a letter from the Ministry of Health in reply to the Council resolution of protest that they did not consider the setting up of a hospital for the treatment of Tuberculosis at Rushden House, detrimental to the town.  They quoted the ‘Report’ of the Royal College of Physicians, showing that a properly conducted institution would cause no risk to persons living in the vicinity.  Councillor Bazely agreed with the Ministry and instanced ‘Brompton House’, in the midst of a populous district of London.  The need for the institution was so great they ought to do all they could to facilitate its provision.  The staple industry provided many victims.  Mr Claridge said the matter was rushed through the County Council, and he was strongly against it.  They could, if they had been consulted, have suggested a much better site.  The place was not properly inspected and the soil was not the most suitable for the hospital.  The Chairman also worded a strong protest.  It was, he said, quite necessary to provide for those suffering from the dread disease, but at the same time, he considered the County Council should have paid them the compliment of consulting them.  The House was next to a road which was the most used promenade out of town, and, to say the least of it, to meet the poor people on the roads, on the buses and trains, was depressing.  He considered the County Council had no need whatsoever to introduce the hospital into a populous district at all; they had the whole county to choose from, further, they had not made a big bargain.  He understood that the House was only to be used for the doctors and nurses, and therefore a much more suitable place could have been found.  The County Council had never done anything for Rushden, for which the town could thank them.  They had, unfortunately, lost an Alderman by the death of the late Ald. Miller, and instead of appointing another gentleman from Rushden, they selected a gentleman from an obscure village.  He was quite sure the inhabitants of the place did not wish to have the hospital at Rushden and he could not pass the matter over without a strong protest.

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