THE SECOND ECHELON

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 January 1940, Page 6

THE SECOND ECHELON

A HEALTHY LOT. SICKNESS BELOW AVERAGE. (By Telegraph—Press Asociation.) WELLINGTON, This Day. So well have the men of the second echelon in Trentham camp taken to soldiering that the daily average of sick among them is below that allowed by the Army as daily wastage for sickness; this allowance is three for each 1000 men. Their health is splendid. There is hospital accommodation for 48 under conditions as pleasant as would be met with in a first-class private hospital. In the past nine days there have been these admissions to the camp hospital: One for each of the three first days of the nine; two for each three suceeding days: three for the next days; and four each for the last two days. The number’ of men reporting sick at the daily 6.15 a.m. parade ranges from 45 to 80, but most of their ailments are very trivial and of a nature they would not bother about in civilian life. However, in the Army they are encouraged to report, it being easier to cure a man at the start when he is feeling off-colour rather than when trouble has developed. Most of these men are given medicine or whatever is required for their cure. The ward which the Wellington Racing Club gave during the last war has been completely renovated and brought up-to-date. The old cottage hospital of 1914-18 has been treated similarly and to its main ward the women of the Wellington Golf Club have given a fine radio set. A set was also given to the other hospital block from another source.

The operating theatre section of the cottage hospital has been remodelled. There are lights over each bed and the colour scheme of wall painting is a restful one of dark and a lighter green. The old steriliser room is now fitted as a modern kitchen. There are two cokeburning cooking units which will cook' for 300; many times the capacity of the hospital accommodation plus staff and’ patients. There is a four-chambered refrigerator. one section of which will take a five-gallon milkcan. Other rooms formerly connected with the operating theatre have been converted into a medical inspection room, camp sick inspection room, waiting room and medical board room. The operating theatre in the last war is now a pleasant five-bed ward. There are also a boiler room, medical orderlies’ changing and bathroom and other offices, including a dispensary in charge of a qualified chemist. From here all drugs and medicines required for the camp will be given out. One of the former units of the old hospital block which, like the others, was used for permanent staff residences after the last war, has been added to to provide accommodation for eight nurses, as well as a sitting-room and sunporch. Each nurse will have a separate room: at present there are four attached to the hospital, drawn from various parts of New Zealand. Another block is being converted to provide a four-bed ward for officers while in the racing club block there is accommodation for three officers plus three wards of eight beds each. Part of the latest equipment which is a feature of the hospital block is an electrical steriliser.

There is a hospital population of 16 at present out of a camp strength of approximately 1600. There have been no camp patients in the Wellington Public Hospital for some time, and on present indications the health of the men is such that the camp hospital will, provide all the accommodation needed.

The grounds of the hospital block are being brought into keeping with the modernised buildings. The lawn round the club hospital has been put in order and flower beds arranged, while other parts will be tar-sealed to eliminate any dust nuisance. The outlook from the wards is pleasant now and will be improved still more.