PLACED ON RECORD

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXI, Issue 212, 21 August 1931, Page 11

PLACED ON RECORD

DOCTORS AND NURSES.

HEALTH DEPARTMENTS TRIBUTE. The following extracts, relating to the splendid work of the doctors and nurses in the earthquake area, are taken from the report ofrthe DirectorGeneral of Health for the year ended 31st March, 1931 “The disastrous earthquake in the Hawke’s Bay district was a severe test of the public hospital system of New Zealand, which was met successfully. The brunt of the work in connection with the cate of the injured fell, in the first instance, on the relatively small but devoted band of medical men and nurses in the affected area and on the Hawke’s Bay Hosuital Board.

“The gravity of the position was added to by the damage to the public hospital, which necessitated the provision of accommodation for the patients who at the time of the earthquake were in the wards of that institution. Emergency accommodation

*-s rapidly mad© available at the racecourses in Napier and Hastings, and here everything possible was done for those requiring medical care. “In these wirlv hours there was a general attitude of unsparing devotion to duty, and not a few instances of heroism, which showed that the doctors end nurses in the stricken area lived up to the noblest traditions of their respective professions.” HOSPITALS. “The outstanding work of the year just closed was the varthquake in dawke’x Bay. Enough bus been written and recorded about the calamity elsewhere. but the chiei feature from my point of view was the disastrous result to the hospital. This was wholly put out ot acvmu. and a •temporary hospital was established at the Napier Park racecourse. The number of patients here was at all times kept down to a minimum by transferring patients to hospitals in other districts. The establishment was looked upon as being merely temporary, so when the first rash was over the question of finding anothei and mo-re suitable site for a temporary but at the same .time a more permanent type of hospital was considered “After various schemes had been investigated it was decided to make use of the wooden T.B. shelters on the old hospital site as a nucleus. This was done, and as soon, as possible the Napier Park hospital was closed “A temporary hospital was also in existence at Hastings, and the staff of Royston Private Hospital rendered valuable service in this institution An experience such as this earthquake is unique in the hospital history of the country, and it speaks volumes for those - concerned that ;as far as 1 am aware no instance of lack or even delay of treatment of the many injured occurred. “The question of reinstating the permanent hospital facilities of this district is under discussion, but at present .with the facilities availaWe locally phis the assistance of neighbouring Hospital Boards, a reasonable number of-beds is available.**