AT THE HOSPITAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17949, 16 November 1918, Page 7

AT THE HOSPITAL.

AN APPEAL FOR HELP

A reporter who made a few minutes' stay at the Hospital yesterday was given plenty of evidence of the seriousness of the present epidemic. The male staff of porters, who in normal times attended to the telephones and supplied callers with information with regard to the condition of patients, have found their whole time and energies occupied with more serious tasks, and three woman attendants, under the charge of a hospital sister, have been detailed for this duty. The sister in charge informed the reporter that matters had now become desperate, and she expressed a hope that those who were capable of rendering assistance of any kind, from the answering of telephones to nursing,, would immediately communicate with the authorities. "We want the public to realise what we are up against," she. added. In a period covering less than fifteen minutes two motor < ambulances and a taxi-cab each added its quota to the already overcrowded institution, while the number of_ anxious inquiries regarding the condition of their loved ones, made by the multitude of downcast callers, was additional evidence of the extent of the epidemic. AUXILIARY HOSPITAL. ROYAL HOTEL COMMANDEERED. The Mayor has commandeered the Royal Hotel, Oxford Terrace, which will be turned into an auxiliary hospital. AH the guests will leave and there will he accommodation for sixty patients in addition to the staff. Dr M'Gibbon will be in sole charge. Patients will be admitted on the certificate of a doctor or a certificated nurse. The hospital will be opened to-day.

TECHNICAL COLLEGE OFFERED,

Mr 6. Scott, ohairman of tho Board of Governors of the Technical College, at last night's meeting said that, although the Hospital Board had secured the Royal Hotel and could accommodate fifty patients at Bottle Lake, it might need further accommodation, and the College buildings, on account of their splendid cooking and sanitary equipments, would be useful. It was decided, on tbe motion of Mr T. D. Boag, seconded by Mr H. J. Marriner, that the offer should bo made. The motion was warmly supported by Mr H. R. Rusbridge.