FOR EMERGENCY

Taranaki Daily News, 18 September 1940, Page 8

FOR EMERGENCY

HOSPITAL BOARD PLAN OVER 1000 EXTRA BEDS PRECAUTION DETA1LS Acting under the provisions of the emergency precautions scheme, the Taranaki Hospital Board yesterday reviewed steps already taken to care i'or the population of North Taranaki in the event of a national or provincial disaster, and set up district organisations to function in any emergency. As requested by Dr. M. H. Watt, Direc-tor-General of Health', the board agreed to accept responsibility for perfecting a scheme,' ajnd towards this end adopted as a principle . that members of the board should act, so far as was possible, as controllers of district organisations. Mr. P. ' E. Stainton, chairman of the board, with Mesgrs. E. B. Davies, R. J. Degre and E. R- C. Gilrnour, will act in the town of New Plymouth, Mr. S. Vickers for the district between Okato and New Plymouth, Messrs. J. Young and A. J. Brennan for the area between Okato and Opunake, Messrs. J. Gibhs and A. Corkill for Inglewood and its district, and Mr. C. H. Barnitt for Waitara borough with a controller for Clifton cbunty yet to be appointed. An executive committee cornprising the chairman, Messrs. Vickers, Gibbs and H. E. Blyde with Dr. C. A. Taylor, medical superintendent, was also established to co-ordinate all aspects of the organisation deemed necessary . This executive was given power to proceed with any arrangements and was authorised to procure stretchers, requisition books, supplies and transport. Kits will be assembled with essential equipment and held in readiness to stock emergency hospitals or to dispatch to danger points. Full Responsibility. ■ Outlining the plan, Mr. Stainton said Dr. Watt had emphasised that upon the board devolved the full responsibility of arranging and carrying out all measures necessary for emergency nursing requirements. The sitqation now visualised carried them a great deal further than had originally been contemplated. The board had been .under the impression that it would act in conjunction with local bodies and other committees, but now it was expected to attend itself to all details relating to the organisation of emergency nursing. Actually, said Mr. Stainton, the position could be regarded as a vast extension of the hospital and the working of the scheme was not expected to conflict with or usurp the functions of any other authority. _ The New Plymouth hospital, said Dr. Taylor, medical superintendent, had been asked to provide IftOO to-1500 emergency beds. An investigation was immedigtely made and already 1000 beds were in sight. He explained the plan prepared for "a national emergency, showing how New New Plymouth would be evacuated mainly to. Stratford, while Inglewood, and possibly Hawera, might also serve as points of refuge for , coastal districts. Those preparations had been made only in of an evacuation being necessary, biit -in the . meantime emergency hospitals ■were being arranged. Emergency Hospitals. At the New Plymouth hospital, : 130 beds were. available for general cases and a further 100 beds fcr surgical cases. St. Mary's hall had been selected as No. 1 emergency hospital and steps were being taken to have equipment in readiness. The hostel at the boys' high school would be Nb. 2 emergency hospital,, and here 150 beds could be arranged with accommodation up to 225 if' the gymnasium was also used. The girls' high schooj, where - there was room for 120 to _150 beds, .would be No. 3 emergency hospital. Further afield accommodation for 100 emergency beds could be found at Waitara in the 'school and at the Maori pah, At- Inglewood, the school and the town hall. would provide sufficient space for 5Q beds, while at Stratford the technical high school would allow of 150 beds and the primary school 100. If more accommodation were then required, arrange-. ments had been made to utilise the racecourse: building. Coritiriuing his review, Dr. Taylor said the hospital had sufficient stores for about ■ two and a-hglf years with wh^t was in stock and what would be arriving shortly. It would be necessary, however, ' to find rodm somewhere in 'the town for storage. The next consideration was- that of staff ing. Here a difficulty ■vvould exist for six months until people now ■ training reached the necessary standard -of competency. There were still not enough V.A.D.'s, but the Red Cross Society and St.. John Ambulgnce were co-operating wholeheartedly in obtaining v'olunteers." Dr. Taylor suggested that the board should proceed with the appointxnent of . controllers in various districts so that the organisation could be pushed J5r. J. Gibbs pointed out that no stores were as yet available in outlying districts. -The -'chairman, Mr. P. E. Stainton: We have that in mind. Each controller will be isgued with a requisition hook. Members discussed various aspects _of the. organisation and agreed upon details likely to facilitate the complete organisation.