SOLDIER PATIENTS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 158, 5 June 1940, Page 2

SOLDIER PATIENTS.

INFLUENZA AT PAPAKURA. ACUTE DIFFICULTIES. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, June 4. As a result of an epidemic of influenza at the Papakura mobilisation camp about 90 soldiers of tbe Thud Echelon have been sent to the Auckland Hospital and to specially evacuated wards at the infirmary, Epsom. It is considered possible that the number of cases to-morrow may reach about 150, and the influx of military patients has created acute difficulties for the hospital authorities, who were already faced with'the problem of overcrowded institutions. T The chairman of the Hospital Board (Mr Alan Moody)_ said the position at the camp was causing the hospital authorities concern. Influenza was on the increase and the board’s resources weie bein' 1 ’ taxed to tlfe utmost. Fortunately, while the epidemic was of a severe type, pneumonic and other complications had been rare among reported cases. '. , ~ “All the men are being sent to the already overcrowded hospital, and we are finding that we shall be able to do little more,” he continued. to ease the position I made immediate arrangements for two 20-bed wards a the infirmary to be evacuated, and extra equipment as well as necessary medical and nursing staffs has been transferred from the hospital. The board'intends to do its-utmost to see that the soldiers receive proper attention and has, I think, risen to the occaSl °“However, in view of the seriousness of the epidemic, it seems to me the military authorities should consider the practicability of ceasing heavy j training at the camp and, by stopping leave and visitors, reduce the incidence or Some months ago Mr Moody had suggested to the Department of Health that Training College buildings m Ep som should be taken over for emergency hospital purposes, but apparently the Education Department preferred to retain the college for the training ot teachers, in spite of the extra demands and sacrifices imposed by the war. These buildings would not only provide for epidemics, but they could also be used as an auxiliary hospital for military purposes. - “It is easy to suggest that church halls and other similar buildings can be taken over to ease such a position as this but they would be altogether unsatisfactory,” Mr Moody added. “To provide hospital v facilities, even temporarily, provision of cooking plant, sanitation and general equipment has to be considered. The only successful method is to have a single unit properly staffed and equipped.”