NEW HOSPITAL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20060, 5 October 1939, Page 8

NEW HOSPITAL

GIFT OF £IOO,OOO PARALYSIS TREATMENT SIR A. MACLEAN'S HELP LONDON. August 3. Sir Alexander Maclean has given £IOO,OOO to the Lord Mayor Treloar Cripples’ Hospital for the construction of a new seaside branch of the hospital at - Sandy Point. Hayling Island, Hants. Accompanied by Sir Henry Gauvain, medical superintendent of the hospital, he recently visited America 1o study hydrotherapeutic treatment — under-water gymnastics—for infantile paralysis and other crippling conditions. He was so impressed with this method of treatment that lie determined that sufferers in this country should have similar facilities, and the new Marine Hospital, as it is to he called, will be specially and fully equipped for the purpose. For 120 Fatients During their visit Sir Alexander Maclean and Sir Henry Gauvain had an interview with President Roosevelt, who, is an I.enthusiastic advocate of wider-water‘gyninasticS. It., is ’pTopbsed to"' build ‘at Hayling Island a new hospital with therapeutic pools and sea-water baths designed on the latest scientific principles. Sir Henry Gauvain said last night: “It is intended at first to take children up to 16 years, but it is hoped later to take people of any age from all parts of the country. “As soon as plans are passed an entirely new building, of special design, ‘o accommodate at first 120 patients, will be begun on what is undoubtedly the finest site for a seaside hospital in this country. “It was selected after an examination of the whole of the South Coast. The hospital will face the sea, and will contain many new ideas. It will house more up-to-date appliances for the treatment of infantile paralysis than can be found anywhere else. Treatment in Pools “There will be pools in which patients will do under-water gymnastics as part of their cure. They will be conveyed to the pools in electric Trolleys and lowered into them by special hydraulic cranes. Their submerged bodies will then be treated by specially trained attendants. “After the under-water treatment they will be given light, radiant heat and massage treatment, and then returned to their wards.” The present small hospital of GO beds on Hayling Island will be retained in a slightly’ modified form. Patients who are infectious will be detained there until fit to be taken nto the new hospital. Sir Alexander Maclean has made many gifts to hospitals, including 110,000 to thedtoyal Victoria and West Hants Hospital, Bournemouth, £SOOO for the cancer treatment centre at that hospital, £IO,OOO to the Hampstead Hospital, and £SOOO to the Letch,vcrth Cottage Hospital. He also financed the first laboratories for the Empire Rheumatism Council at St. John's Wood, where he maintains three research specialists, and gave the hall to’ the Eventide Homes, Gastlelane,- Bournemouth. He has given much assistance to the Queen Mary’s Institute of District Nursing, on the council of which Lady Maclean serves.