OUR HOSPITAL

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 432, 15 February 1909, Page 6

OUR HOSPITAL

ITS NEEDS AND REQUIREMENTS. / i

A REPROACH TO THE CITY - ,

'/"■':■:'"'' '■':■. (By. an Ex-Patieilt.)■ '■ , ..' >_.y -.- ; .■■:■-..!■ ■ ■'■' For /sometimp past the/Wellington Hos-y ~7y. r pitalhas beenWher prominently^in the pub-. '/■'.. lie eye—so "prominently, in fact, that'.the man, V. . in tho street,, whoihnd. prided":himself, upon: :■■;: v the oxcellence ; of this/publio institution, be-:.. .... Ean;aimly.;to ; roalise;thatjth;ero;>ere';;.many; ~yy;; tbinge inneed of .mending—in; fact, that, the ■ ;,; entire establishment fell .very, -far,,short -.ot. •-... .:y ■.present-day requirements, and ..was urgently,, • ■;., ,:, inwant of .general enlargement; and; .reconrvyyy strUction.-/..;->,; iVv;;.--.; :!■■■.. y'i; •': ■'>/:■'. ••'-•.'.■'<•■'.'■■■■■■ j. .-'■• :■;•; ■->" Fevor and Diphtheria Provision.. /v'y;'//. : . ; \,:.}, :To Ijegin'with, it was disconcerting/to find- ■ ;.; : that the' fever hospital; was nothing- more'or i-.,. >,: less than, a: germ-infected .ramshackle-place, ;: y A 1 which .would be a'disgrace ; .to any^:modem; : ..' I city. "Yet" such ■■ is tho'caso; asis.now learned- : :V; upon;expert authority. :', lt scarcely required.:;j. ■; the .spread of .contagion .to some of'- the r6si-> ;Vy;. dent medical.staff and nurses ,to", 'emphasise. ;-;-,'i this fact. Tho fever hospital.kaslongbeena '■■/.'■>''"'■ scandal;.and while/the, Trustee's and Hospital -iyy.y: Board have been holding ;3undryoonferencee ,■;;..' —largely, devoted to .lengthy personal; ex- ; :-.-"■■ ;.plariatioris.and.vindications—the'; scandal has": >./;;/■:'::. romaiued unrehieclied. The Trustees'have now '. ~ ''■■■ ~i /decided/ to adopt 'the cheapest/of three -'. schemes,; providing for a'nurses' home,; fever -.';,:- ward,' and administrative>: buildings,; and it is :. ; ~ ' ;tb be'lioped tliat : the:board.will s'o'agreeablej.'\ ':' ■to.this and that building;"operations) '-'■. : will riot .be long delayed.''. The. Trustees, to-, : ;... : give 1 them'their due, have .all along displayed-;' , .. an intelligent appreciation 6f:tho.'_urgont'nced . .'■■■■ fever:hospital; but-thfey have'-beea v>; sorely hampered in,not having any iunds-at;;,: '■ their.'disposal,:;,and.in?being compelled to. de- ; : J: ,'; pend upon .the.eo-pp.eratipn : 'of ;tHe:Hqspital; ;.,;. Board andHhe^Government;; both^;pr. ; \vjioni; s ; : 'yU\ :- ; ■'...•■• v- -'vi'>: , '// :; ;i,;. :; ."'".V ,' ; '-. One Result; of, ;the• conferences stf;far; ap-:■ ,H ;.V pears'tb.be'thejpractiealabandonment^i:.any :,".,; ■provision cases'."Considering ;•.;.;■; that Wellinetonjcityiand. district; are never.;,.;,;; free, from ; this 'disease, -; and that; '.the; pastf.; ;. .. and present, medical .'superintendents,-.as'.well; V'. .'c as.' the- entire jionorary pndi resident ;.;;;';.; wero unanimously;of opinion:that:provision;.;; ~; ■..shbuldbo made. for. diphtheria patients ;undeiy. ;>;-. : -. .the hew"'scheme, \ii. "seems" difficult"to;underr''.: : ;■'i' v ■stand how, any mere.question' df-'a j; tively : ; : ;trifling^'additiona^.'e'xpqno^ture'';.;could':. ■'■■■\.:, jiistif j>' abandonmeht of -the 'proposed ..diph-': '■'■:■', :'.'.-;;.■ theria ward.:...But,'.apparentlyj there'-themaV;:.;'. '.■.:, ter rests. V-At'present diphtheria cases are at--; ';.;■'■ tended'..tp in the small;, side-rooms attached jto-'A'.; ■- : -' ; the.general'. wards, ,but' ; these: are quite /in-; :..'v:. adequate:for ordinary requireiicnts, :without ■ • '■;■ -; : taking into account the/possibility of . •. ;■ demicof thedisease:;;; ■'}" ; J J /:.■ -~'■,-.';■ %\\['// ;, v General Lack; of Acoommodatlon. : v.• • ;; -For;a'cbn4idorable; timo'tHe. medical'staff. ;::. ; . of. ; fcho"hospital have:found /their-best'effpfts v-.':;, towards amelioratinglthe,conditions.of- v tb"e.;.; : ,; ,'patierits under tlieir. care'''fcribbed, cabined, >;^;>- /: and;confined" by insufficieneyof^^ r accommoda-..;.;' tidn; : . Not on^ ,;co'n , Bt•an'tly. : 'ofβroroyde■di\many;pa'ti<mts'ha7-//■'■ : y.' : .\ ing io'be'content with'stretchefs pWced alongr:; : .'; the centre of ihe ! -floor space, but attmhers'bf;;;":'.;;: 'Btriek'eniand:affliot«d;pebplo, ! v wlio .are: proper;;';;;';.;;: :subjects■ 'for-'baspital''treatment;•',have;..to be;■;,,;i^ , refused."admittance .'daily,';;'Oorisiderihg'thai;*; j; : ; : ,the.great majority,of , sucli I cants';belong to: a, lowly;.' sphere, of.life;,. and j- ; i -\':; :are'unablo'tp secure "outside; of 'the Jabspital'V;- - \ 'the, necessary ■'• medical andy.nursint'ia^teridr.'...;;. a .arice,;as well.asvhealthful.surrounaungs'.that-'.vv! >;; '' serioiis'illness , ''.demands;' one, ; ;:shudd6rs;;to'.>■.-?■•; ■ ;think ! <rf :their_ jEate,;:; Tiiis. is no/ ;exaggefated;i.::. v ?; •.piptnrc, r :bntv& ; BJmple-sfetement:bff;;^e:;bal3;-;;^ : ;-;.-- iaq't which;the sceptical.ean easily:verifyi The;-;'-■::; ; . •Trustees; have had.under;cpnsiderati6n a.jpla'n'.-f :; ;;: for the.duplication of the./ General 'at"an' e'iperiditnre : pf.spnie ; £30,000./' to '•■■£iof'i. V; I;:/: ■■' 000. This'" doo3vnot;.appear;'an;;im improper;; : ,outlay;•■'for .■-;;■■.a- : '. ; " ■'_ populous .w$ iprosperous ■..community to;.undertake in such ..; ;: ; . a cause[ it : spdnsibility, 'ahd/the^bsehce^of/the.flUaJi^/ I ''';; '■ of ./Mvidualorcpllective/tenerbsity'; / :v, .biir;• /wealthyE.people •tions,' this:necessary r wofk can 1 bmyVb&-under- /■•; ,', ■takeh^piepemeali-'V-.lii-/place'of•■.being',able to/'- ■.;. embark upon : a''thorefugh- plan■■■'of ■ enlarge-:;. ■;'.■; ment.v : Una ■'recohstruotwn— which/ would\be.; 7 .': -.-' possible-ander ; an; intelligent systbra , ;.of .rat-.-'-. ■ -■■ ing; i f 'uader'which posterity-could' b6"''made. / / •: :its-/proper, proportion./of ; ' : the bur-/'' ■. den-^it/.hae-been' found/.necessary;;'tb/vlimit.: ..';. the : extension '.'to ; one:• Additional ; ttiale .ward -;■ : .Sy thfs' y'earV- with,::i>orliaps;i':a children's: ward . ; y / next;year|-And ■/ ■;/" /so■'on, :bit;;by;:bit;. ; WhW'a^pirturo/pf/ad-/~'/vj; miriistratiyeiimitatioris:in,:our'Empire City, v':,. •' .this:'capital-^pf^;God's : ■boasts o.f'iharbouring ; neither'pauperism 'nor ,\ -, ; ,-/ ;pemiry Within its I. : ? •■■',>. iwardj operating theatre/ and/ahother^femal©'.; '■ ■":•; 'ward-are almost; as/urgently needed'sow-as v.../: ;the-erfra;niale'w«rd;".butffie:manyr6therd6 r " .' sirable /wantsv.they: must' remain .in;'abey- : ■ an^/;-.indefinitels;!^".AtV>pws'ent i -'-measlee'.'pa»..V , '.. V tiente' are' treated in/a : one-time porter's ..; '■.' lodKe,' i ;and;s.f,ortunat«ly;5.f,ortunat«ly; ehterip/fwerris;e; ; ;■■■ /';.. irarity.//in:pur/midsfc; > '■'/'■■■C[ .''-~.'V-v'"V:/-;',/' ''■ ■ ■^/;'^v^^pji«Wed : !(^bnsiWHl^ i ;;;-v ;, ;" : :\--:/-'' : - : i .-,". A'gerierai :review.i of ii&e circumstances /of j . / //. cessity ;fpr an. intelligent-'legislative;■remedy-.;:.; ■■;■-;' fdr'the p'resen't/isystem-of .divided-.responsi--./- .:'. b'ility.; Under/theiawyas/it.now. stands, while ' : .;,,,;, : the ;Trustees/aro'/ the body; charged with the",'-. -.;..■■/ administration; of : the/institutioU/: they/have.- ~'-' ' no: power-- to / a-'rate; :fbr: 'the purpose, :; ■ ;■ ■ Tho /'-'sinowsVof war" /aro:provided-:/by.; -.the .■'.;' -'-. District' Hospital/Board;■■ who ;in turn .levy; off : ■■-,■ ; s ■the. local bbdies .'in'/tlieir'''district/ - . >In._ad-.,.--' ;'■ edition, there: is v asGoyerhnWnt , /.subsidy; ;' ft;/::/.; -,- shoild-not.bo "difficult, to-deviso some unifica-,-',•; y,; tion"of. the.:po.irbrs,of :these./various :bb.die*'v ; /'•: in ; regard to. hospital : management,; on!.. simj^,;.-;. * ; lar lines, to those;adoptedi;under,the-Eng-/'/ /.:.. lish: Poor 'Law -«nd which /shows: such' a .relish : for .so/many'/un- ; ..■',;;- tried and impPssible/experimentsj might pro;'■,.' fitably -devote, a; fewymtelligent/hours ;-tp-\:K.\ remedymg:pbsoletp3meth6ds...,;/;-,;.;;.;:;;;':'V;;v ■:/;:/: A Dbotor's Strong yrlctiires,;;: f;ln^making: I had: ':ta'e.'-;. : ;.; - : .'information: which : I gleaned ■■confirmed ; ..by ; ;.■:■: : a .well-kn6wn';/Wellington; ; doctor; ; - who/;has;;,-.//:;; had .-some'.years , .- acijuaintance with the. hps-'./ // \ ipital. / ; This practitioner.:;.was/strong 'arid}/.-"v outspoken in 'tis denunciation, ofithe:exist-/.- •:/'..: ing state of things "in- ebnne'etibn .with; ,the : '; ':■}'■ fever hosp/itali whioh'-he;charaoj:erised : asi"a ;.■.'. public ..disgrace.".. ;:Ho/-.alsb .commented:- on .."y; this: inadequacy'.of; l.the accommodation .;.m , : V : : ' the general 'hospital. 'People /who 'ought:-1<) - ; . -': bb;'admitted-'had 'bo /'turned;' away soyery -■ : ; -: day. . He sometimes wpndered.whatvbecaine.:; :,-. of theml'i/In,regard to'tho demand;for,"an/// - .additional/bporatmg'theatre,.ho:pointed.,otib :•■; ;; that'at .present, /with.an.average of ■some-,' /;' .280.patients .in..the hospital,,/it, j frequently. /y/;.. happenod/thafe'/two. or -throb; different .;;-'.; geons.founH it; liecessary-. or , expedient -.t0 , ..: y -.•-. operate ; at; ;i'The"y' had . a*. ;y/second theatre. at ; present, but; it was; an'old' ;; ; one; and-only;used for-septic.'.cases. , .' lii're-./y ! ;/ gard ;to /the' absence of .propor/prbvision..forv-.-;; ■" diphthe'riaycases , aad. measles.in ,the. , new!y~■-.•.; fever hospital,■':'ho-, pointed out' that'; the/;, i; / diphtheria :ward ?;hadv: been abandoned v ; : iny;':/;' opposition 'to tho .wishes, of. Dr.\ Smith (med- '.;"■■■. ■ ical superintendent), Dr. Ewart: (lato medical"/ - ;:: '■:■ superintendenti. of twenty years'. ;.'; hnu all the honorary staff- and .'medical;mpi i;.: ->. 'consulted.'. ■-The.-present proposals :fof'j.:the"- .;;;. y ■fever hospital,;..involving//an : outlay: ofVspme'•;.-'. ;t/'. £13,200/: nad been'-reduced .to ; a v .minimumj- c;■"■:::• and "the medical men .consulted had -.agreed/;/, wk to its attonuation against-thejr,'better,'judg-A'..// ; ment. : My.i3iformant'unhesitatingly; concur-■/■■//< red.with thb-view publicly expressed by Dr,y';/■?;' Eirart as.to the. futility of -a woo_dbn::fever,iy).-:;::' hbspital. //In/six."or. seven .years;.it-.!?,would:; : . // have .to be; abandoned, as a. germ-infected,' /y".. ■darigor.;/ If the' scheme, of duplication 1 of .the ■■~/' hospital; ■ m/contemplated ; liyy : the/:-yy.. l , rost«!s,''.-ha'd : '.beeii- - .-.oarriod--'puV-' , >tt-rjtSveny':.'i',- :: ,'.J tiroty, it:would have;'giYety!adequate;accbmrV:;.:V; mpdatibn for ■: some years .''.to' . rf-i tho BUinber -of patients exceeded four :;,:■■-: dred.it was. always better - ;to; have"-a second; :- :/ / hospital. /This'opinion, was held/by-tho best / y . /recognised ; ;;authoritjics.-.:. During .the> /past'■..';■' oouple.'..of"'.-years;.most of/iho /great! hospitals /;/;.-,; j]i'-6reat-- - 'Britain'."h'ad:';apppinted';'me"dicar.B*-. , .r'/'.^^i i porintendehts, and .that; ciiiifieiit authority," / :■;.,. .Siy - --Wm/' - Burdptt'/.ih. : his;''bofa.lc':on'-hMpiti(b l had'advocated that: theiri.duties ; "should.not/'/;/;./. iiioludoauy routiho iwoik 'in; tjie;wardg;//but-.;;./■: should ho confined: to-.the. admission and dis-. ..'• '.;,■'.'• J charge of ,'patients ; and.-the; general super: /; -■'• vision,' of : every department ;.or. they iaptittKy : -.;■ tion. l ■:■■/.;' / ■'/ ,: / ; ;';"' <;/ ;"■:;,',/■;'; ";/'" y;/.":" :"'y.