Though for various reasons the official opening of the new County Sanatorium at Rushden House is being delayed, the institution has already begun the great mission to help sufferers from tuberculosis.
A representative of this paper, accompanied by the staff photographer, recently visited this tree-sheltered centre of healing, and by the courtesy of the Matron inspected the many departments and gathered information concerning the staff’s work and expectations.
An effective Conversion
Rushden House, as a fine example of the modern country mansion, has a place of its own in the affections of Rushden people. Its position on the southern fringe of the town is fairly high and delightfully snug. Although screened from the Wymington Road by a belt of trees, and protected by foliage on other sides also, it is by no means cut off from the breezes and commands some rising ground over which health-giving zephys can skip to its doors and windows.
During the war, after the departure of the Browning family, Rushden House was unoccupied, but astute members of the Public Health Committee of the county Council saw in the rooms, solid building and the large pleasant grounds the very place for which they had been looking. The estate covers 25 acres, and includes a lodge, two cottages, stables, a laundry, potting sheds and greenhouses, lawns and gardens, an orchard and a kitchen garden.
In addition to altering and equipping the house for sanatorium purposes the scheme has embraced the erection of numerous pavilions (converted Army huts) flanking the main building. Some of these pavilions are to be used for early or middle-stage cases of tuberculosis. There is accommodation of this kind for men on the north lawn and for women on the south, with large recreation rooms in close proximity. A children’s pavilion contains two wards, each with five beds, a playroom dividing the girls’ ward from the boys. In the main building are splendid wards for “advanced” cases.
Miss B.C. Allsop, late sub-matron of the Sea Bathing Hospital, Margate, a lady who served in France during the war, and has had a wide experience in the treatment of tuberculosis, is the matron, and the resident medical officer will be Dr. J.H. Crane B.A.,M.D. B.Ch.,B.A.O., who has been senior resident medical officer at the Park hill Sanatorium for the City of Liverpool.
At the time of our visit 14 patients, the majority being men, were under treatment, and the matron had the assistance of five nurses. There is accommodation for some 68 patients and sufferers will be admitted as soon as preparations for their reception can be completed, so the sanatorium should fill up by Christmas. The nursing staff will be increased to eight or nine.
A Haven of Health
A peep into the men’s ward (formerly the drawing room) showed it to be a fine department – light, roomy, fitted with large French windows and excellently equipped. Several patients – young men including some ex-soldiers – were there and appeared to be so cheerful as to leave little doubt that already they were feeling the benefit of their course of treatment.
Upstairs a bright and comparatively small ward for women was also in use. Elsewhere on this floor is the nurses’ sitting room, noticeable for its dainty furnishing and snug appearance.
One of the best rooms on the ground floor was the consulting room, handsome in proportions and detail, and radiant with white decorations. As the matron smilingly pointed out, it will give newcomers a most agreeable first impression of the place. Another department to catch the eye was the dining room, with its delightful circular fireplace and multi paned windows.
Up to Date Treatment
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George Wollard
gardener for 30 years
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Naturally the grounds were not in the condition that used to make them so delightful, but gardening will form one of the exercises for patients who are well “on the mend” and to restore the gardens and lawns to their wonted beauty, the employment of a large staff of gardeners will probably not be necessary.
Beautiful clusters of grapes hung thickly from the roof of the hothouse, and the other glasshouses and the kitchen garden were in excellent condition. In the orchard we met Mr. George Wollard, the gardener, who is proving a most useful member of the staff. He knows the place inside out, for when a boy he worked there for Mrs. Currie. That was about 30 years ago. About 18 years ago Mr. Woollard entered the employ of Mr. Browning, and he has been gardener at Rushden House ever since, although strictly speaking his post during the years the house was vacant was that of caretaker.
Northants Patients First
First claim upon the beds at the sanatorium will be had by residents in the administrative county of Northamptonshire (which excluded Northampton and the Soke of Peterborough) but spare beds at an economic price will be offered to other authorities. Dr. Muriset, chief Tuberculosis Officer for the County is in control of the whole scheme and there is a standing sub-committee, which worked so arduously during the conversion of Rushden House, and throughout he took a very active personal interest in the project.
The Rev. Percy Robson M.A. Rector of Rushden, has been appointed chaplain and will hold a service at the sanatorium every Sunday, also visiting the patients when necessary.
Miss Allsop makes an appeal for help. Gifts in the form of toys, games, books and magazines would be received with gratitude; a bagatelle of billiards table would be a godsend and a piano would fire the whole establishment with enthusiastic joy.
