DIPHTHERIA CASES

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1050, 14 August 1930, Page 9

DIPHTHERIA CASES

HOSPITAL BOARD FACES PROBLEMS INFIRMARY ACCOMMODATION Of the 7J2 patients in the Auckland Hospital, 40 are cases of diphtheria and 31 scarlet fever, the former being mostly of a serious nature, while the fever cases are not very serious. There were 42 patients admitted to the hospital yesterday and 40 the day before. “Our most important need at the present time is for additional accommodation at the infirmary for longstanding patients,” said Mr. W. Wallace, chairman of the Hospital Board, this morning. “The board has under consideration the erection of a further building for 100 patients, but building arrangements have, unfortunately, been curtailed, owing to the general financial stress.” Quito another serious problem, said Mr. Wallace, is that of unemployment. Last week was the heaviest yet brought under the board’s notice. There were more than 200 cases of unemployment. The conversion of the basement of the Wallace Ward into a casualty department lias been completed and adequate accommodation has now been provided to cope with any demand. Mr. Wallace said that the increased accommodation for the treatment of casualty cases had been a long-felt want. The waiting accommodation had also been inadequate when the department was situated in the main building. Full provision had been made in this direction and the department was now much more convenient.