MEASLES AT TRENTHAM.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 144, 18 June 1915, Page 3

MEASLES AT TRENTHAM.

THREE DEATHS REPORTED. FORTY- FO I'l' ON SICK LIST. WELLINGTON HOSPITAL COMMANDEERED. (Ry Telegraph.—Press As-ociation.) WELLIXCTON. Thursday. The medical superintendent of th_ I Wellington Hospital, reporting to the j Hospital and Charita,blc Aid Board today with regard to the admission of an increased ninnber of military patients to the institution, stated:— ''For some months past we have bad a number of soldiers in the general wards suffering from ordinary medical and surgical ailments, and in addition, patients suffering from measles hare been admitted to the galvanised iron buildings at the bac-k of the children's ward. There is accommodation there for 20 patients. On .lune o Dr. Valintine, Inspector-General of Hospitals, informed mc that the Defence Department required more accommodation for their sick, and lie asked mc to admit military patients to the Victoria chronic ward, stating that he would provide accommodation elsewhere for the present inmates of this ward. Aftci consultation with the chairman of the board, the chairman of the Hospitn.l Committee. Dt. Valintine, And the Hon. .Mr. Allen, it was a-greed to comply with. Dr. Valintine's request. On. June 8 the women patients from the Victoria Ward, _0 in number, were transferred to the Home for Aged Needy. It was arranged that the latter institution should supply, nurses to attend to the Victoria. patients, but that medical attendance, laundry work, medicines, and dressings, would be supplied from the Wellington Hospital. On Tune 9 several measles patients were received from Trentham, so that in the ward at the entire disposal of the military authorities there are 44 measles eases. The intention is to send these patients to the Wellington Hospital at the a<:ute stage of their illness, then as soon as they are convalescent to remove them to Bcrhatnpore or elsewhere, till they are fit to resume duty. Thus there will be a constant stream of military patients passing in and out of this hospital, and staying, only a few days. I have been assured: that the Defence Department will assist with medical officers to any extent that is required, and after consideration it seemed to mc that it would be *sest far the military medical offices to have sole control of the admission of patients, to direct their treatment in the wards, and to transfer them elsewhere -when fit to move. I have therefore had cards prepared, and am asking the military medic.il ollicers to fill in one of these cards before admitting a patient. Also, I am asking them to arrange the discharge of I patients, so that there is no overcrowding; in fact. I think it will be necessary t,. reserve the power of refusing to admit more patients when all the availI i.blc beds ire full, for unless great care |is exercised. I fear that confusion and overcrowding will soon occur." Dr. .1. Kennedy Elliott questioned whether the emergency was sufficient for the hospital t., have been practically "oomm.indooro.i" by the military autlinrities. It looked as if the Defence Department hud neglected its duty in not having proper hospital accommodation „| its ~wn. Th.- chairman I Mr. H. Baldwin) stated lh.it it vv..s ,|„it e out 0 f t jj e quest j on t() leave men who were suffering from measles in the cold tents at Trentham. Really no inconvenience had resulted from taking charge of the sick soldiers. Dr. Barclay stated, in answer to a question, that there had been three soldiers' death- from measles. On the motion of Mr. Luke it was resolved to urge the Government to take imme lute steps to make provision for hospital accommodation at Trentham in case then should be an extension of the measles epidemic.