Important change
The year 1904 marked an important change in the conduct of the
hospital. The honorary medical staff was increased by the
appointment of Drs. Edgecombe, Garrad and Hayne to the medical side
and Dr Solly and Mr Frankling to the surgical side: an unnecessarily
large staff for so small a hospital, it might be said, but it had
the effect of stimulating interest in the institution, for in 1906
it was further enlarged later to house 55 beds. From that time it
may be said that the infirmary began to take shape as a budding
modern hospital.
Under Drs Solly and Frankling, surgery at the Harrogate Infirmary
rapidly attained a high standard, and the necessity of sending to
Leeds cases requiring major surgical operation was avoided.
Out-patients' clinics were started in otology and ophthalmology, but
the medical side, except for out-patient treatment, was severely
cramped for want of beds which were mainly occupied by surgical
cases. And so we carried on, trying to cope with a gradually
increasing demand for hospital treatment, up to the war of 1914-18,
when the work further developed.
In view of this increasing demand it was apparent in 1904 that
further extensions and facilities were urgently needed. Accordingly,
plans were drawn up for a new operating theatre, a modernised
out-patient surgery, an X-Ray room, the installation of a lift, and
a new ward of 20 beds to bring the total bed complement to 55. The
plans were adopted in 1905 and put out to competition among
architects. Mr H G A Bown was the winner on the adjudication of the
Assessor, Mr Bertram Bulmer. By October, 1906, the building was
completed and formally opened by the Countess of Harewood, and
celebrated with a public luncheon at the Queen Hotel. The total
cost, including furniture, amounted to £7,000.
In 1904, Mr Allinson, chairman of the board of management,
resigned, and Mr J W Wilson was appointed to succeed him. In 1906 Dr
Neville Williams completed 28 years' service to the hospital, and in
1907 is recorded the death of Dr A S Myrtle, the doyen of the
medical profession in Harrogate. He was a forceful personality who
held sway for many years over his professional colleagues.
