The Town was hit by a number of infectious diseases like Whooping cough and measles during the early part of 1887. Whooping cough and Scalatina would plague the people of Rotherham for the rest of the year. The weather was also reported to be exceptionally severe being very cold and wet. May's weather rainfall was 3½ times the average, causing disastrous floods. A number of Schools were closed to reduce the spread of infectious diseases. There was a total of 126 deaths related to the epidemics throughout the year of which 43 were children under one years of age. It was felt that overcrowded and dirty living conditions also contributed to the infections. The hospital accommodated a lot of cases but the demand was so great that patients were asked to take steps to isolate themselves in there own home and to stop a serious epidemic occurring. By September the same year smallpox of a virulent type outbreak also occurred in the district. In all there had been twenty-six cases in which one death had occurred. The first two cases beggars and no doubt one of them contacted the disease in Sheffield, where the man had been just 14 days before. By mid October a meeting was entered into to look at the possibility of renting a large house which was thought suitable for a temporary hospital but after some hesitation the owner declined either to let or sell it foe such a purpose. Other buildings were enquired after but none were found suitable. On November 25th the ward had 40 fresh cases most were slight.
The Local Government Board inspectors visited the Workhouse on the 16th November 1887 and found the new infirmary almost completed and would possibly be occupied in the few weeks. Mr Kennedy the inspector also reported that progress to the hospital was very slow and he urged that the building should be finished. It was notice that all parts of the Workhouse were crowded and no doubt the removal of the sick to the new infirmary would give some valuable relief. The last finishing touches like plants and shrubs were planted in front of the hospital. Mr. Harry L. Tacon of the firm of Tacon and Rawson, architects of Rotherham forwarded a certificate on the 31st December stating that the hospital was complete and ready to be handed over to the Board. The Chairman remarked that he had inspected the new hospital and he considered it was in an excellent state. The new hospital was opened around the 16th January 1888. Mr. G.B Adams of Rotherham did the furnishing under the supervision of Mr. Tacon with a total cost of £5384.6s.
By February the heating in the new hospital was not working but the architect promised to look into the matter and deal with it straight away. The Local Government Board inspectors visited the workhouse on the 21st July 1888. They were concerned about a young boy who was sent to the hospital. He was being treated for an infectious complaint of the eyes to stop the disease from spreading to the other boys. The boy was placed in a ward, which was recently vacated by a fatal fever case and the ward was ongoing disinfection order to be ready for another case if required. Within a few weeks the boy recovered and was discharged. The question the Board was asking was whether it was safe to place the boy in a ward that was on going disinfection, which could have involved loss of life. Most of the Guardians agreed under the circumstances Dr. Hardwick had done a good job. Dr. Hardwicke had explained there were about eleven diseases infectious in character so they would require apartments. The complaint had highlighted even with the new wards that the hospital still proved to be inadequate.
© Neil and Janet Croft 2005