DIPHTHERIA IN THE CITY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3085, 16 May 1917, Page 4

DIPHTHERIA IN THE CITY

NINETEEN CASES IN HOSPITAL

PROPOSALS FOR DIPHTHERIA WARD

The autumn of the year is usually the most favourable season for diphtheria, and, as in other plates, this disease has been rather more prevalent here this year than is generally the case. How many cases there are in- Wellington at the present time is not known, but there are in the General Hospital nineteen cases, mostly children. Children are most vulnerable to the disease, which in its initial stage is sometimes mistaken for an ordinary sore throat. With the disease prevalent, parents should take no risks in the case of persistent 6ore throats, but should seek medical advice at once.

The nineteen cases of diphtheria at tha Hospital are accommodated in a'ward, at the eastern side of the main building, and not very far distant from the back of the Children's Hospital. The location, is not ideal, it is admitted, but it is the best that can be done as things are. Mr. H. Baldwin (chairman of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board), when seen by a DOMINION reporter" yesterday, agreed that the matter of providing special accommodation for diphtheria patients was an urgent one, and the board was at present giving attention to the matter. Mr. Baldwin stated that the board was not 60 -well off.for land as it might be, but out of the Mock of seven a.cres (at the northern, end of Coromandel Street), - on which the Infectious Diseases Hospital and Administrative Block stand, there were five acres of hilly land, which -with certain busi-. ■ness sections fronting Riddiford Street (on either side of the main entrance to the Haspital), might be exchanged for a block of ten acres which adjoins the Infectious Diseases Hospital block, on the •western side that belongs to the Mental Hospitals Department. To that end the valuers of the board, the Department, and tho City Council had heen employed, and the difference in their ideas of the value of the respective blocks was so small that the Hon. G. W. Eussell had consented to a consultation of the valuers, with a view to coming to a settlement. On that point there may be something to report at the next meeting of tho Hospital Committee. Should the exchange come about—and ho hoped it would—a separate diphtheria ward would be erected as soon as possible on the land so acquired, which would also 6erve as a site for other premises for infectious diseases. Mr. Baldwin said that he'was wide awake to the position, and he admitted that if the present outbreak of diphtheria became epidemic, it" would be very awkward for the Hospital authorities indeed.

Referring to the Riddiford Street pi<w .perty Jlr. Baldwin said that at present the board owned all the sections between the cart entrance to the match factory and the main enhance to the' Hospital, arid two. sections on the northern side of the latter entrance. The 'rest of the sections belonged to the Mental Hospitals Department, so that if the exchange of land was effected they wonld be linking up a lot of valuable business sections, with similar land already in their possession, the whole of which.' has lain idle far too long. Mr. Baldwin hopes, however, to -be able to retain a section on either side of the main entrance to the-Hospital grounds so that there will always be land enough to provide a dignified entrance to the instituj tion. ' ' • • Whilst on the subject of the boards 1 activities, Mr. Baldwin said that it wonld be imperative to make an addition to the Nurses' Home this year. , There were 110 6im»le rooms for the sisters and nurses, and when it was considered that the average number of patients was,about 400 it would be seen (on an average of one nurse to every three patients) that more room was required. Still more would be needed as the work of tho institution was extended. For instance, an ophthalmic ward was being- erected at the present time. That would employ eight nurses and four maids, who would 1 have to be accommodated with sleeping quarters. The nurses for the proposed diphtheria ward did not enter into the question, as they would be accommodated in the Infectious Diseases Administrative Block, which would Boon have to be enlarged. The nurses from this deuartment did not associate with those'of the General Hospital staff, as it was not con-' sidered advisable for them to,meet.