Smallpox eventually faded as a threat, but in the interwar years high levels of unemployment put added pressure on an outdated system, and the poor law unions were soon abolished in the late 20’s by the Conservatives who transferred the administration of poor relief to local governments. Whilst the NHS hadn’t yet come into place, the need for modern healthcare was becoming more and more apparent. Maiden law hospital was eventually commissioned in the late 1930’s, to be built across the road from the original sanatorium which was only occasionally in use by this time.