CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2733, 30 March 1916, Page 2

CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL

. THE DIFFERENCES ON THE HOSPITAL BOARD ' | TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION A rather curious position has arisen in respect to the use proposed to be made by a section of the members of the Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Board of certain space in tho Children's Hospital. It appears that in addition ,to the two wards, which have ,been occupied'.continuously since the hospital was oiiened, there are two upstairs wards —the. "Macarthy" and the ■'Islington" have not been used up to tho present. These wards form. tho ''bone of contention" between conflicting ' parties oil the board. • One' section, headed by the chairman (Mr. H. Baldwin) desires to use the wards in question for ophthalmic patients until permanent provision can be maile for thorn elsewhere. He argues- that' it is a reasonable proposition, as such a ward has been promised for a'lo»g time, but the time is hardly opportune for the board to press the Government .for a grant with which to erect such to the Hospital's growing colony of buildings. Tho party which opposes the chairman's proposal does so on. the ground that the riionoy collected for the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital for Children was donated for a special ' aVid particular purpose, viz., the care and treatment of children. Tifose who can recall the big effort made- by Hugh Ward and a number of local people in 1910 will appreciate the endeavours that arc being made by Mrs. Wilford, the Rev. 'H. Van Staveren, and othors to preserve the whole of the Edward-VII Hospital for tho children. The appeal, which fouud such, a ready echo in all hearts in August, 1910, was made 'on. behalf of suffering children, and there-will be many who will agree that the stand -that is being taken against converting any portion of the Hospital to other uses has a strong sentimental basis. The matter was thrashed out at the meeting of the board, hold on the afternoon of ( Thursday, February 17, when tho motion to use tho unoccupied wards, for ear, eye, and nose patients was defeated by eight votes ( to seven. But the matter was not allbwed to rest at that.- At' last Thursday's meeting of the board, Dr. Platts-Mills (who was not present when the vote was taken on February 17) moved, and Mr. F. Cnstle seconded:— "That the board reconsider its decision with- regard to utilising the upper story—at present unused —of the Children's Hospital, and that it be immediately fitted up as temporary ophthalmic wards." In the.course of the discussion, Mrs. .Wilford and .others, once more strenuously opposed ihe motion, condemning the proposal as a "breach of trust," and stating that the space was at the present time badly.heeded fo rthe children themselves. When appealed to, Di*; Morice (Acting-Superintendent) -favoured a separate ophthalmic ward, but in the. interests of tho greater number of.! patients he consideredn that the itpper story of the Children's Hospital should be fitted up as an ophthalmic ward. The Present Position. Tlie statement tliat the upstairs wards were needed now for-children was a point in the discussion wliicli warranted a full inquiry into the position as regards accommodation. ■: At'presont only tho downstairs part of the Children's Hospital is. in ilse.' This is divided into two main wards, called the "Wilford", (medical) and the .. "Hugh J. Ward" wards, large, . light,. airy wards,' with broad verandahs, each one 'terminating at the front (northern end) in a spacious sun room. .Between the two wards-is" a "garden ; courtyard, which leads to the main building and entrance, .Inside the door, \and one stands in the corridor that joins the two' wards. Each ward 1 his 24 beds (in two compartments), and in addition to thosg 'there are,' four two-bed - rooms ■ for ' special cases, making in all inside accommodation on the ground floor for 52 patients. Tho Ward inside is used advisedly, as the • wards have splendid verandahs, deep,and -well shaped,"yet the cots, if trundled a few- feet, can stand in the sunshine. Somo 'of tho patients are ordered verandah locations. They like it, and thrive oil'it. If necessary twenty ■ patients could "be" accommodated in that >. way, so that 'there i? ample room. With : out taking the .verandahs into "consideration at all the hospital accommodates 52 patients on the ground floor. ' Yesterday the inmates, numbered 49. That is to say tlio Ilospital authorities, by using the verandahs,'could take in another ten. or twelve cases in the portion of tlie building now in jise without feeling any pinch. 1 . "Macarthy" and "Islington."

Up easy stairs from the centre of the main corridor one climbs to the portion • of the building, the "subject, of dispute, the ' 'Macarthy" and,' 'Islington'' .Wards , —two large, ( airy, and .fairTy'.-well-liglit-ed wards, divided by'a'wood-and glass partition..'.JGach, has a well fire-place at the farth'er,.end, aiid. opening off the front of . each is a glassed-in sun-room., > These wards', have not been used yet. ' Off the Macarthy Ward is a well-fitted kitchen, replete ; witli conveniences, which have not yet had a cllanco to show how well.-they can cook, and off the Islington Ward "there is a fine well-lighted . bath-room (with a -sdutherly aspect)) replete, with adult and baby bath's m tuo whitest of porcelain. Tliere are also storerooms and lava-tories,-such as.one, might ,expect>in an up4o-date hospital building,'so that the whole of the disused flat is really selfcontained. ' Whether it'is suitable for ophthalmic cases -is for. experts to say,' and they say that it'is not ideal, but would serve admirably as temporary accommodation; and if such is decidcd upon a measure, of. relief will be affo-d----ed to an overcrowded, general hospital. , v Another Shot; Since the, motion was carried at the last meeting nothing has been done towards fitting up tho'place as ophtha'mic wards, and unless one party or tlie other concedes; something the question of the use of these wards will he the sport; of notices of motion. The latest one is from the Rev. H. Van Staveren, who has given notice that lie intends •to move . that the motion; .on the subject, carried by'one vote.at tlie. last meeting be rescinded. 'In the meantime all is well with ■ the little patients, and-the good. Sisters smile at the Tvholo' business, but decline to express any opinion one way or the other.