Mexborough and Swinton Times March 13, 1915
Conisborough Isolation Hospital
Bidding for nurses
War office sends prices up
Mr. Snow presided over the monthly meeting of the Doncaster and Mexborough joint Hospital board, held at Conisborough on Thursday.
No Nurses Now
The click (Mr. H. M. Marshall) reported that he had advertised twice for a nurse but had no reply. Dr. Maclure, medical superintendent, said they had offered a salary such as was usual before the war. At present nurses were offered more by the War office, so the market had gone up against the ordinary hospitals. On the motion of Mr. Baker, it was decided to advertise again, and to offer a larger salary.
Food Prices
The clerk said he had received a letter from Messrs. Clayton, grocer’s, of Mexborough who stated that under present circumstances they were unable to submit a tender for groceries and fix prices so far ahead as Sept. 30th. The war had rendered the importation of goods uncertain, and they would have to fix prices so high that the board would be ill-advised to upset them. Mr. Baker said that was a very satisfactory letter. It was decided that groceries be procured from Messrs. Clayton at the best terms obtainable.
Insurance.
The board decided to increase the insurance on the hospital buildings and contents from £8000 to £16,000.
Measles in Scarlet Ward
The medical superintendent reported that at the end of January there were 64 patients – 55 scarlet fever and nine enteric . During February there was admitted 28 cases – 22 Scarlet, five enteric, and one diphthoria, discharge, convalecent, 30 – 28 Scarlet and two enteric.
One patient died from scarlet fever, and there had been an outbreak of measles, introduce from Bentley, and the ward had been close against further admissions.
The ward at the old hospital had recently been broken into, and a number of things stolen. He understood the police had made an arrest that morning.