Hi Mike, you've heard the expression "up the creek"? That refers to the Naval Hospital at Haslar, at the end of Haslar Creek near Portsmouth. It refers to the chances of survival because a journey "up the creek" was likely to be a one way trip.
These officers were found lodgings in Deal most likely because it was felt they'd be more likely to survive their injuries there rather than in the hospital. They were also probably able to pay for a better standard of care too, whereas the Naval Hospital was free to serving personnel.
Early 19th Century medicine was primitive to say the least, bacteria and their effects on people, especially wounded people had yet to be discovered and what advances were made in medicine were through observations of the effects of actions and treatments. Read my articles about HMS Formidable and HMS Union for more details about how some of the advances made.
