October 1921 there would be no great occasion would see the opening of the new sanatorium as the economic climate was still very bleak and the whole nation seemed full of gloom so the Corporation felt it would be inappropriate to have a grand opening. The grey life of unemployment was soul destroying and the inadequate work blighted the benefits of health this sanatorium would bring. The new tuberculosis sanatorium would accommodate up to 100 patients, and yet the Ministry of Health set the condition that the Corporation could only occupy 70 beds. The other 30 beds would be used by the West Riding Country Council, at a cost of £2.15s per bed per week agreed by the Ministry of Health. As the sanatorium was almost ready to open, furnishing and equipment including an X-ray machine at the cost of £1500 was purchased. Two cottages were purchased adjoining Oakwood Hall and were converted into one at a cost of £350. A sum of £12.10s was paid to one of the tenants for removal expenses and the potatoes in his garden. When the work was completed the cottages became residence for Dr. Barr acting as the new tuberculosis officer.
On the 27th of October 1921 the 13 patients that had been accommodated in the temporary marquees could now be transferred to one of the completed blocks by the 21st November another 23 patients were transferred from Kimberworth Hospital to Oakwood Hall. Tuberculosis in the 1920’s was a very difficult disease to cure for many patients, treatment would take weeks or months. Little was known about the disease that could attack almost every part of the body, but most frequently the lungs. Tuberculosis was caused by a germ named Tubercle Bacillus, discovered by Robert Koch, a famous German bacteriologist who was born in 1843.
The 70 Borough beds were soon full and an arrangement was made with the Westmoreland Sanatorium at Meathop, for the use of four beds. The Corporation also opened a well-equipped Tuberculosis Dispensary, which they occupied jointly with the West Riding County Council; this dispensary was situated in Rotherham's town centre. The Tuberculosis Officer visited the dispensary three times a week for two hourly sessions. These occurred on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 3 p.m. Serious cases would receive treatment in the sanatorium.
The patients day began at
7am. Their temperature was taken before they were allowed to get out of bed, and then
breakfast and a glass of milk would be followed by exercises set by the TB medical
officer. Patients would lie still on their beds for complete rest and during these time
patients had to remain absolutely silent. Only after patients temperatures were taken
dinner would be served. The afternoon would start with rest then two hours of exercise.
For recreation patients were allowed to entertain themselves with table games or whist,
followed by a complete silence of one hour and the last temperature recorded of the day.
Supper was at 7p.m. followed by recreation until milk and lights out at 9.30p.m. All
patients were set work by the TB medical officer and this work would be graded light,
medium and heavy and would depend on how well the patient was. Light work was from dusting
to bed making and washing up. This work would become more physical as the patients became
better. Their work was graduated up to gardening, path making or carpentry. They would
work half an hour in the morning and two hours in the afternoon, using smaller than
average tools. Some patients thought once they started heavy work they were ready to go
home. They imagined they were fit to earn a living for their families. Unfortunately some
of them insisted on taking discharge even though the consequences of this were explained
to them. On entering the sanatorium a copy of the rules and regulations were given to each
patient. These rules were taken very seriously, and had to be obeyed by every patient.
One of the sanatorium's main objectives was to teach patients about good hygiene practices. This education would be an advantage for patients in the sanatorium or a home. Simple things like covering the mouth with a handkerchief, or throwing a cigarette end only into a fire etc. Carelessness with these could quickly spread infection. The main treatment for TB was injections of tuberculin. Close observation was needed on each patient in case they had any reaction to the medication. Patients were usually discharged on a Saturday morning. By January 1922 the 70 Corporation beds were full but the extra beds at Meathop sanatorium had never been in use so the agreement was cancelled. The first West Riding Country Council patient was admitted into Oakwood on the 21st July. By the end of it's first year 696 Borough cases had been admitted to Oakwood Hall for treatment. All these patients were adults and it was the year 1925 before the sanatorium would see a total of 17 children receives treatment at Oakwood. More advanced cases were admitted to the Workhouse Hospital or the Poor Law infirmary as it was also known. The beds for the West Riding Country Council were so successful that in 1928 an additional 30 beds were allocated. Alterations or additions were carried out around the years 1935 and 1936 as a new Nurses Home was opened in October 1936 which proved to be great comfort for the nursing staff and solved many administrative difficulties. Two small rooms were also added to the hospital accommodating beds for another sixteen patients.
© Neil and Janet Croft 2005