THE LIVERPOOL COUNTRY HOSPITAL

FOR

CHRONIC DISEASES OF CHILDREN

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The Hospital, although only projected in 1898, was opened in 1899 in temporary quarters placed at the disposal of the Committee at an annual rental by the authorities of the Children's Convalescent Home at West Kirby. Here the work has been carried on with the most satisfactory results and a permanent building which would ultimately accommodate 200 children was erected on a splendid site overlooking the Dee at Heswall.

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The object of Institution was to provide for the uninterrupted treatment of children suffering from chronic ailments, whether medical or surgical, which cannot be satisfactorily dealt with in the wards of the City Hospitals.

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There is no time limit so all those subjects of chronic ailments which constituted the major part of the children's cases occupying the wards of the urban Hospitals were taken in hand and treated from first to last under the very best conditions in the fresh air of the country.

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Only those cases were admitted which present a reasonable prospect of being cured or permanently benefited and no incurable or simply convalescent cases were undertaken.

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Patients were admitted mainly from Liverpool and Birkenhead. So far as possible children from other parts of the country were admitted. A small charge for maintenance is demanded, varying with the means and resources available but for those unable to pay anything free cots were provided.

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Whilst resident in the Hospital the children receive regular instruction from certificated teachers and in many cases education was thus brought within their reach which was impossible to them while lying helpless at home.

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Liverpool has been a pioneer in providing a Hospital of this much needed and unique type and it is gratifying to note that similar institutions were started or were advocated in other parts of the country.

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