The care of the chronic sick. IV. A comparison of data from hospitals in the Stoke-on-Trent area with data from Western Road Infirmary, Birmingham.

We selected four hospitals which draw their patients from urban and rural districts in the Stoke-on-Trent area, and which differ in size and character from the Birmingham hospital. Brief particulars of these institutions are as follows: (i) City General Hospital, Newcastle-under-Lyme (formerly the London Road Institution). A general hospital with 915 beds distributed thus: Beds for the acute sick 411 Psychiatric beds 179 Other special beds 112 Chronic sick beds 213 The chronic sick wards are arranged as part of the general hospital. (ii) Turnhurst Road Institution, Stoke-on-Trent.-An old Public Assistance institution, with 212 beds for the chronic sick, and an annexe now offering accommodation under the provisions of Part III of the National Assistance Act (1948). No general hospital facilities are available, and patients in need of attention are transferred to the City General Hospital. (iii) Moorlands Infirmary, Leek.-An institution of the same type as (ii), with 81 beds for the chronic sick. (iv) Cheadle Infirmary.-A third institution of the same type as (ii), with 67 beds for the chronic sick.