SURGICAL AID

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 40, 17 February 1931, Page 10

SURGICAL AID

INACCURATE REPORTS

DOCTOR STATES THE FACTS

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) HASTINGS, 16th February. The steps taken to treat the injured at Hastings on the day of the destructive earthquake here have been described by Dr. C. Romaiue Wright, superintendent of the Hastings Emergency Hospital, in a statement which the chairman of the Hawkes Bay Hospital Board, Mr. C. O. Morse, has handed to the Press. The statement was drawn up because of erroneous reports circulated regarding the manner in which operations were performed.

"I should like to emphasise the fact that the prompt and efficient measures taken would have boon absolutely impossible but for the fact that the matron (Sister Williams) and the staff of Eoyston Hospital were all ready and organised as a complete working unit at the time of the earthquake, and were not disorganised in any" way," says Dr. AVrigut. "Immediately thereafter their whole staff and equipment were utilised as a nucleus around which the Hastings Emergency Hospital came into being. "The fact that Eoyslon Hospital was a -well-known private hospital and adjacent to the site of the damage resulted in all casualties being at once taken there. Withn half an hour the large lawn adjoining the hospital was filled with patients to the number of approximately 100. Each patient requiring it was on arrival immediately given morphia. "Sister Williams and the medical men who were at Eoyston Hospital at the time at once realised some place would have to be found to accommodate and deal with all casualties. One of these doctors and Mr. H. V. Hoadley made a hurried visit to the tea kiosk at Hastings racecourse, which was judged to be undamaged, and orders immediately were given for all further cases to be transferred there. Owing to the number of voluntary lorry drivers who also congregated at Eoyston Hospital gates this was possible without delay. Within two hours of the earthquake every cot case lying on Eoyston Hospital lawn had been transferred to the racecourse, with bed and bedding. ANAESTHETICS USED. "At half-past one in the afternoon operations were commenced in an emergency theatre in tiio women's cloakroom at. the tea kiosk. Sixty-six operations were performed between 1.30 and approximately 10 p.m. ■ Each case had full surgic.ii 1 anaesthesia, and in not one of those cases was anything oxcopt .sterile dressings used. After all casualties had been dealt with an urgent major abdominal operation was performed, rind again sterile dressings and instruments were available. This was rendered possible only by the amazingly efficient organisation of Eoyston Hospital in general and its theatre staff under the charge of Sister Cooper. To appreciate fully this achievement one needs to be a medical man. Whilo the behaviour of everyone was beyond praise, I desire to stress most strongly the fact that the Eoyston Hospital staff and organisation were the salvation of Hastings.

"Turning from llio .medical and surgical side of the situation, I should like to express the thanks of the committee to those voluntary workers who appeared as if by magic and took ehargo of various departments incidental to the hospital. Particularly I desire to stress the value to us of the voluntary cooks, who without facilities gave us an ample supply of boiling water immediately, provided us with cups of

ite: & and soup during the day, and cappe d their efforts with a wonderful hot -U anor at night."