Sick Room

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The homes usually had a least one sickroom. This was to help the recovery of ill children and also to protect the other children from infectious diseases.

Diseases such as tuberculosis, diptheria, and scarlet fever were common and could spread very quickly in a children's home.

Some homes, such as St Nicholas Home and St Martin's Home, both in Surrey, were established to help children who were unwell. They took alot of children with tuberculosis and rickets. Rickets was a bone disease caused by a lack of vitamin D and calcium. It was quite common because of poor diets.
These homes had "open air wards" to help the convalescent children get fresh air and sunshine. Beds were taken outside during the day.