FAULTLESS JOB

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 128, 27 November 1944, Page 4

FAULTLESS JOB

HOSPITAL TRANSFER

OTAK! TO SiLVERSTREAM

Running at intervals from 7 a.m. onwards yesterday, well-spaced convoys of civil and military vehicles transferred 180 patients and 70 staff memers from the Wellington Hospital Board's quarters at Otaki to the Silverstream Hospital. By 2 p.m. the patients were for the most part in bed in the wards there, and the last of the stretcher cases arrived at 4.15 p.m. This was achieved largely through the organisation of Mr. H. H. Olen, the superintendent of the Wellington Free Ambulance, who had been perfecting the arrangements for several weeks. "The fact that the transfer was carried out without a hitch and to schedule I feel is due to the wholehearted co-operation and team work displayed by all sections, including the hospital doctors, sisters, nurses, and staff at the Otaki Hospital," said Mr. Olen today, "and had it not been for the general co-operation the transfer could not have been carried out with such success. I wish to convey my heartfelt thanks to those who participated. We were fortunate in having a fine day. It rained only on the arrival of the last convoy at Silverstream." He paid special tributes to Major-General Bower bank, who arranged for the Army and Air Force vehicles; Colonel F. W. Kemp, who took up the running from Trentham Camp; Captain Macdonald, who was responsible for the control of the military and Air Force convoys; Mr. K. Smith, senior officer of the Free Ambulance, who had charge of the unloading at Silverstream; and to volunteer's from all the services concerned. .

Participators in the work pay tributes to Mr. Olen's excellent organisation, which operated faultlessly. The convoys consisted of 11 vehicles of the 2nd Field Ambulance; five ambulances from the Medical Depot, Trentham; five ambulances of the Royal New Zealand Air Forced three Wellington Free Ambulance vehicles; 12 emergency ambulances (converted commercial vehicles), supplied by various Wellington firms through the E.P.S.; 42 private motor-cars, the majority attached to E.P.S. groups.

The military sections of the convoys were under the control of Captain MacDonald, N.Z.M.C., O.C. 2nd Field Ambulance; Mr. L. J. Lyons, chief liaison officer of E.P.S. fire patrol sections, was in charge of the E.P.S. convoy. In addition very complete traffic control and road patrol arrangements were made by officers of the Transport Department under Chief Inspector J. E. Ainsworth, in co-operation with the military and Automobile Association (Wellington). There was no overlapping or delay m arrival at Otaki, and activity by the nurses and attendants and transferring patients and equipment from wards to cars and ambulances speeded up the lading. Of the patients. 99 were stretcher cases and 81 able to walk with assistance. There were 122 old people, some exceedingly frail, and 58 young people who have been receiving orthopaedic treatment.

By 11.15 a.m. the medical superintendent, Dr. J. B. Mackay, had seen the last of the main contingent of patients comfortably settled in. ambulance or car, and the journey to Silverstream via the Haywards road was undertaken at slow speed. The cavalcade was inspected by Sir Charles Norwood, president of the Free Ambulance, and various military officers, who stationed themselves at points en route.

The main convoy reached Silverstream at 1.45 p.m. It was met by members of the Hospital Board, including the chairman, Mr. H. F. Toogood, and Mr. A. P. O'Shea. Supervising the finishing touches still being applied to the institution was Dr. J. Cairney, the board's superintendent-in-chief. He expressed satisfaction with the punctuality of the convoy and the condition of the patients; some were very tired, but none showed serious ill effects.

The change of quarters offered a new outlook and a more bracing climate, and patients appeared to appreciate their new surroundings and space

The Silverstream Hospital has been extensively renovated, and. altered in minor respects to suit the requirements of a civilian hospital. Painted throughout and generally refurbished, it has a comfortable and neat interior appearance. The sprawling, single-storey buildings give easy access to all wards, which are well ventilated~and comfortably warmed. The hospital has been taken over for a five-year period, and it can accommodate 400 patients. Dr. P. B. -Benham will be the resident superintendent.