THE FEVER HOSPITAL

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 290, 1 September 1908, Page 7

THE FEVER HOSPITAL

QUESTION OF SITE. PRACTICALLY SETTLED. INTERVIEW WITS DR. EWART. Finality has; practically been roaohnd witli regard to tho site for tlio new Wellington Fever Hospital, the need for which hsp t been advocated for years past, and with particular vchemeuco of late.' Yesterday morning the Hon. George Fowlds (Minister for' Public Health^' 1 accompanied by Dr. J. M. Mason (C!liicf, r Health Officer), Dr.. Ewart (Medical Superintendent at the Wellington Hospital), Dr. Crosby (Superintendent at tho Wellington Mental Hospital), Drs. Hay and Frengley, with the Hon. 0. M. Luke (chairman of the Wellington Hospital Board of Trustees), inspected the hospital and asylum reserves, and ultimately decided upon an area of seven or eight acres of the asylifm .reserve adjacent to. the northern termination of Coromiindel Street, I as a suitable sit? for the fever hospital. It is understood that' tlio acquisition, of the area indicated will bo effected upon the basis of an exchange of land. The trustees would have preferred to purchase tho site, but statutory difficulties stand in the wsy. The, .be exchanged 'will probably bo a portiofi of the trustees' frontage to Revans Street. ,

Staterrient by Dr. Ewaff. "I think' we can look upon tho matter as practicdlly settled," said Dr. Ewart .to our representative- yesterday afternoon. "Of course, it will he a year or something over before the building will be available, but the most satisfactory aspect of the question is that, something tangible as to tho site of the ' fever hospital has now been arrived at." . . " It must bo a considerable relief to-you to'have the question settled at last, doctor," said the. reporter. "It is," ho replied. " For years I have lived in constant terror of an outbreak in the general hospital. ' Tho position at present is most unsatisfactory. There are two nurses down with fever now, and when one considers that under tho existing, conditions the'nurses in tho fover ward are practically there for sis weeks at a time, . and sleep in an adjoining room to the ward, which is separated from them only by a thin partition of wood, , one can' scarcely, wonder at it.," ' , Does one attack of fever render, immu- - nity from future attacks, doctor? ." Yes, as,a rule. Cases have been known where second, and. even third attacks, have been experienced, but these subsequent cases have- been very slight." The Nursing Staff. • ;'The .opening of, the new hospital, then, should materially improve tho conditions under, which, .the _ nursing staff at the fever ward are at present P. " Dofiidedly.' "Just now, the nurses aro confined to the ward. They daren't go . side tho door, lln a properly-equipped fover hospital, the nursing Btaff would have * placed at their disposal a suite of dressingrooms. Before going into the wards, they would'completely change their attire. Afterwards,. they.would remove,their hospital apparel, thoroughly disinfect themsolvds, don their, everyday attire, and bo perfectly free to go into the' city. There is, no space for such conveniences at present! 1 The ward is full-of 'patients, and I havo continually to ' refuse "fresh cases. As dn instance, I might mention that tho Health Department rang up asking mo to admit a fover case from a dairy. I couldn't. The result will be, of course/that this particular dairy will bo closed." • ' ■

There are some, doctor, who_ will say that the fovor hospital • will not be sufficiently isolated from the. city. Is there ans danger at all? 1 '"Absolutely .none," ho said. "The great fever hospitals of London are in the very heart of the city. In England, in the coun- | try districts, tho law is that a fever hospital must be at least forty feet from the adjacent buildings. The only danger deserving of consideration arises from careless nursingneglect of proper precautions as to disinsection." There will, of course, be provision for aU infectious fevers in the new hospital? "Well," said Dr. Ewart, "there will be 9, scarlet fever ward, and a diphtheria ward. Measles ■ can be controlled outside." ..What about typhoid and typhus fever' cases? , ."Typhus is. unknown in New Zealand," repliedl)r. ; Ewart. "In typhoid cases there is no danger with careful nursing."