THE WELLINGTON HOSPITAL

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 103, 25 January 1935, Page 12

THE WELLINGTON HOSPITAL

Infectious Diseases

FEVER HOSPITAL TO BE RENOVATED

Hutt Valley Requirements

Infectious diseases other than the social blight which nobody talks about except in terms of disgust, are neither serious nor numerous these days in Wellington. A glorious summer has not been marred by an outbreak of “seasonal maladies.” There appears to be much advantage in the capital of the Dominion having first place among the four metropolitan centres for sunshine, and first also for winds brisk enough to blow disease germs to Antarctica.

But. as already demonstrated in preceding articles. Wellington Hospital still is called upon to give a surprisingly extensive service both to residential and out-patients. Among healthy people who would have imagined that operations within the hospital aggregate well over three hundred a month, that close on six hundred patients daily require the services of a staff of 450, that expenditure runs to about £150,000 a year, and that annually the dispensary issues 50,000 prescriptions —a gulping dosage. ■ 'There is. however, only one scarlet fever case under isolated treatment at the Wellington Hospital. The patient is housed in a corrugated iron cottage with "the outside old and mean,” but witli everything else conforming to the poet’s standard. The main fever hospital has been out of commission for four years or so. involving, through depreciation during a period of rigorous economy, a projected expenditure of some £2,000 on renovations and alterations in order to bring it back into service. .Meanwhile, infectious cases, fortunately few, are accommodated in the cottage referred to and other isolated hutments, which, to look at, would make sensitive observers feverish. Facilities for Recreation. ' What is to be done with the tin house? Since there is admitted need of more recreation facilities for tho general hospital staff, the existing tennis court could be duplicated on the site of the adjoining corrugated cottage. 2k requisition is likely to be made soon for the construction of tennis courts. The staff can claim to have been very patient with the crude arrangements for Hie relaxation and recreation that even doctors and nurses require in order to maintain their health and fitness. Going the rounds of the Wellington Hospital as a visitor is exhausting enough; heaven alone knows how the staff retains Hie energy and cheerful patience essential for the treatment of fractious patients. Anyhow, the hospital does not' rank high in respect of its equipment, for its large working staff. If any or many of its members are discontented, they do not parade their feelings or shout their opinions in the long and lofty corridors, though some of them look wistfully at “a chiel takin’ notes.” Effects of Mechanical Progress. One learns at a modern hospital that the progress of a mechanical age brings new injuries and new appliances for healing them. There is a noteworthy demand for the services of the orthopaedic ward, where all sorts of injuries to limbs and joints are treated scientifically ami with many different mechanical aids. “Don’t be surprised at the untidy appearance of an orthopaedic hospital,” was the counsel of the medical guide. “Untidiness is inevitable.” There is method, however, in the ingenious appliances that are used for the purpose of repairing injuries to human bone and muscle. Mechanical speed has accelerated the demand for orthopaedic treatment. It would seem, incidentally, that pedestrians and motorists alike should learn to think orthopaedieally. Equipment and skilled service are taxed to the limit of capacity all the time, in the eye, ear, nose, ami throat section of the hospital. The booking list for out-patients is always five or six months ahead. Indeed, every special clinic is fully engaged. As in other New Zealand centres diabetes is responsible for 1 a growing demand for hospital service in Wellington. Most of the sufferers are out-patients, who, following the treatment prescribed at the hospital as regards diet, medicinal dosage and that mockery of advisory idealism —no worry in an age that has been the most worrying throughout history-—can be treated in their own homes. It is clear, however, that many of them ignore the folly of a feast of sweet things. Treatment of Cancer. As for cancer and its treatment there is an admitted need of increasing the available supply of radium. The modest stock is inadequate for the demand. An early expenditure of about £60(1 on supplementing the supply is mentioned ns one of the pressing requirements of the hospital. Experts alone may discuss Hie efficacy of radium treatment of the fell disease. A cure has nut yet been discovered, though research everywhere is going forward in the hope of discovery. Meanwhile, one of the difficulties is the chronic one of getting people, stricken with the disease, to seek remedies jp its early stage. Needs of Hutt Valley. The increasing demand l y out-pa-tients throughout Hie wide district Ims suggested to tho authorities tho need of providing some form of local hospital service for the Hutt Valley. A suburban population of some 20.000. with prospects of expansion in the near future, has no hospital in its midst or even conveniently close to it. Healthy .advocates of economy may object to the erection of n separate hospital for i Hutt Valley residents, but medical ex I nerts explain that a g"bnt deal of excellent service would bo. provided at moderate cost by tho establishment of .a diagnostic station and disnensarv This, witli a small export staff, would lie able to deal witli sufferers who may be described roughly as only half-hos-pital cases. The idea is in efficient nr.ac flee in other conntrios. Tn the meantime tho claims of the Hutt Valley residents arc gaining ennstrnetivc consideration. I fs there need of building reconstruction at the general hospital, and should activities and e-pnnd’fnro in respect of charitable aid bo divorced from a medical and surgical institution?

(To lie continued.)