DIPHTHERIA RAMPANT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 145, 19 June 1918, Page 4

DIPHTHERIA RAMPANT.

HOSPITAL ACCOMMODATION TAXED. A very serious position has been brought under the notice of the Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board by the Superintendent of the Hospital, Dr. C. E. Maguire. In a report to the Board last evening Dr. Maguire stated that there were over 80. cases of diphtheria in the Infectious Wards' of the hospital, and. that the accommodation was fully taxed. A number of patients were convalescent, and were not confined to bed during the day. They were unable to discharge patients until they gave two consecutive examinations of throat swabs. Some of the patients who had been up and about for some time were giving positive and negative examinations alternately with surprising regularity. This kept tbe wards very congested. There appeared to be a pretty general epidemic of diphtheria in the Auckland Hospital district. He had had to transfer patients from wards in the general hospital who had contracted the complaint from outside sources. In each case he had tried to trace the source of infection, and had been in conference with the District Health Officer on the matter. The epidemic had attacked other districts besides this, the epidemic having appeared earlier in districts farther south. Should the epidemic continue and the number of admissions exceed the number of discharges in the same ratio as had prevailed during the past few weeks they would have to seek further accommodation. There were no buildings available in- the hospital grounds, and it would be difficult to deal with cases outside, as the nursing staff was very fully occupied. He had transferred some scarlet fever cases to the Observation Cottage, and had opened the Scarlet Fever Block for diphtheria patients. The report went on to state that a sun verandah was proposed as an addition to the scarlet fever ward, and was approved by the Board last year, but its erection was postponed. He suggested that this should be taken in hand as soon as possible. This would give them practically another ward, which at such a juncture as this, the report stated, would be a great boon. The chairman (Mr. W. Wallace) bore out Dr. Maguire in his statement in connection with the proposed sun verandah, and urged that it be proceeded with. As an indication of the seriousness of the epidemic, six members of one family engaged in milking at Pukekohe, and 4 in a family at Takapuna, one of which had resulted fatally, had contracted diphtheria. Mr. Nerheny also considered that the work should be put in hand. On Mr. Potter's proposal it was decided that tenders should be called, to be J submitted to the Buildings Committee,' with power to act.