Open Air Treatment And Hospital Care Of Patients With Tuberculosis

For many years tuberculosis would prove to be one of the most controversial of medical conditions. It would take many years and many mistakes before a breakthrough treatment and the progress of new antibiotics. From 1887, the Workhouse Infirmary adjoined the Workhouse on Alma Road treated a number of patients with tuberculosis, or T. B. as it was also known. Although the Workhouse Infirmary had been around since the 1950's in 1887 a ward was set a side to treat T.B.patients. The Workhouse Infirmary would later also be known as the Municipal General Hospital, and later still as Moorgate Hospital.

A number of cases needed specialised treatment and these patients were sent to Deanhead near Leeds for open-air treatment. Over the next few years this proved to be very costly for Rotherham’s Board of Guardians. This treatment proved so expensive that the Guardians formed a committee to look into the matter. The committee advised the Guardians that they should maintain a sanatorium of their own, so negotiations took place between the Rotherham Board of Guardians and Rotherham Corporation to create an open-air shelter on the grounds of Badsley Moor Lane Hospital.

A picture of Rotherham's Open Air Sanatorium from the Medical Officer's Of Health reports By January 1910 the shelter had been opened for 12 male patients. The main treatment was quiet, rest and plenty of fresh air, (regardless of the weather) and good wholesome food. TB was a difficult disease to cure and the average stay for the men in the shelter was 86 days. Every case of tuberculosis had to be reported to Dr. Robinson, the medical health officer so he could keep in contact with the patients. Rotherham Corporation had always taken active steps in the treatment of Pulmonary and other forms of Tuberculosis in their area. By the Rotherham Corporation Act, 1911, Section 82, they were given the power of compulsory notification of Tuberculosis cases. This scheme was brought into operation on 1st December, 1911 and proved to be very effective.

When Badsley Moor Lane was opened as a permanent hospital one of its temporary structures was sent to a site at Kimberworth. This temporary building was not used for a number of years, but was eventually opened on the 7^th February 1914 for men with tuberculosis. The open air shelter at Badsley Moor Lane closed and Kimberworth Sanatorium opened its doors to seven men who were under the medical care of Dr. Robinson the then Chief Tuberculosis Officer, who made regular visits to the Sanatorium. There were only four beds for women and a fifth was added later. The first woman received treatment in the open air shelter on the 22^nd June 1914. The hospital was later enlarged to accommodate 24 beds in a permanent ward block and in huts. From 1914 to 1919 it had treated 365 patients, 230 males and 135 females compared to Badsley Moor Lane Hospital dealing with 35 patients for the same period. Kimberworth Hospital played a major role in the treatment of tuberculosis before Oakwood Hall opened.