EARTHQUAKE DISASTER

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 72, 24 February 1931, Page 4

EARTHQUAKE DISASTER

HOSPITAL BOARD MEETING. SPECIAL REPORT SUBMITTED. Primarily concerned 'with the administration of relief to sufferers in the earthquake disaster, and the arrangements for the evacuation of the injured, the Palmerston North Hospital Board at its monthly meeting yesterday received reports on the situation which had arisen and the commitments in which it had been involved consequent on the very active part which it played in dealing effectively with the national emergency. CALL FOR ASSISTANCE. The managing-secretary (Mr Phillipps) Submitted the following special report on the position:— “Some few hours after the earthquake at Napier, Dr Watt, Director-General of Health, interviewed mo and asked, firstly, regarding the possibility of our board being able to take patients from the earthquako area, and, secondly, that I would act on behalf of the department in the handling and distribution of all casualty cases evacuated from Hawke’s Bay for distribution to the public hospitals in the southorn half of the North Island. At the time of the disaster, the medical superintendent, Dr .Ward, was on annual leave, but he immediately returned and has remained on duty. 'After Dr Watt’s visit, steps were taken to establish at the board’s office a register of hospital and maternity home accommodation available by communicating with all other hospitals. Each train arriving at Palmerston North was mot, and from the first three trains the major portion of the beds available at Palmerston North were filled, cases still fit to travel being sent on to other hospitals. ARRIVAL OF PATIENTS. “Right throughout the first nine days, "trains continued to arrive, and the drafting of patients continued. From the later trains only patients who were not fit to endure further travel were admitted to our own institution. During the period of nine days approximately 100 train cot cases were cleared to Palmerston North institutions, 120 to Wellington and over 30 to (Wanganui. On tho second day after the earthquake an offer was received from the Mother Superior of tho Convent and Mr Robin Hood to lend the old Convent building in Broadway as a temporary hospital. This building was inspected by Mr D. S. Wylie, and’ arrangements were made to house up to 25 patients in it. This had become necessary owing to tho fact that a large number of casualty cases were being found amongst the refugees,' and, until definite steps were takon to have all casualties separato from refugee cases, it was not possible to draft such cases to other hospitals. At the Convent Hospital, within two days, between 25 and 30 patients had been admitted, and as this hospital was purely of a temporary nature, arrangements were made at the first opportunity to distribute tho cases and most of them were removed by train to tho Hawera Hospital on tho 15th inst. “When the refugees began to arrive in Palmerston North, it was necessary to arrange for medical services and attention at the refugee camps. Suitable accommodation Wfts arranged for by the authorities in charge of each camp, and nurses were employed and later a medical officer was stationed at each camp. This work is still being carried out by this board on behalf .of the Health Department, and will not be charged on this board’s funds. CASE OF THE AGED. “When tho inmates of the Parke Island Home arrived in Palmerston North, it was obvious that they wore not, generally speaking, well enough to be housed with the ordinary refugees, and on behalf of the controlling authorities of the Parke Island Home, an institution was established (conducted on tho lines of an Old People’s Home) on tho Feilding racecourse. Dr Cameron, of Feilding, has rendered most valuable service in this connection, and the old people have been comfortably and generally catered for by the Feilding residents. The Feilding Jockey Club have generously agreed to allow the old people to remain at tho racecourse until late in March, and by that time arrangements

1 which the Health Department are making ' for their transfer elsewhore will have boon completed. The expenses in connection with the Parke Island Homo inmates will bo recouped to this board by the Parke Island authorities who have stated that they greatly appreciate what has been dono for these old people. As regards hospital cases in Palmerston North, the Hawke’s Bay . Hospital Board will accept liability for . cases treated at the general hospitals. RECORD OF CASUALTIES. “A system was instituted in the board’s office of indexing and recording all casualty cases when once they left the Hawke’s Bay area, and bulletins wore issued right from when wo first admitted cases and sent through to Hawke’s Bay, and to all other hospitals, with a view to assist in locating families and friends. 'The bulletin servico has boon much appreciated by Napier and Hawke’s Bay people, and has saved many pooplo useless journeys looking for relatives. The bulletins aro still being continued, but now aro only reporting on progress of patients, etc. In connection with the supply of drugs, etc., to the stricken area, most of the arrangements were made through Palmerston North, and material sent from here. At the first word of the disaster one of our ambulances left for Napier and when the Wanganui Racing Club’s ambulance was made available to the hospital our second ambulance was sent. Our ambulanco drivers did continuous work for somo days, and I am pleased to be able to report that their work is most highly spoken of in Napier. At present, to assist the Hawke’s Bay Board, we have loaned one ajfibulanco until such time as tho Napier Park Hospital has been evacuated. This has beon done after consultation with the representatives at Na?ier and the Director-General of Health. n the meantime, one of the Christchurch free ambulances is remaining in this district, as well as one of our own ambulances, so that we have adequate ambulance service. SERVICE OF COMMUNITY. “In tho courso of this work a largo number of Palmerston North pooplo rendered 'very valuable servico. Among these I would especially lika to mention the following : —Mr J. W. Smith, stationmaster, Palmerston North. Mr Smith’s assistance in connection with train advices and tho preparation of special trains, involving an enormous amount of work, left nothing to be desired. No acute cot cases were held up for moro than a few minutes at any timo at Palmorston North station. Thanks aro due to Mr Shelton and the post office staff for tho great assistance that was given, especially tho splendid bureau service which was afforded to this office. Mr Aitchison and Mr F. Cousins, of Palmerston North, mot every train night or day and attended to tho comfort of tho inmates and saw that all patients and nurses proceeding beyond Palmerston North, received refreshments here. Irt co-ordinating work between our dispensary and the outside chemists, Mr Aitchison also rendered most valuable assistance. Mr Barnard, superintendent Fire Brigade; Mr Kells, superintendent Fire Police; St. John Ambulanco men, who were in Palmerston North, and the railway ambulanco men all did useful and systematic work in helping with the clearance of trains and handling of cot cases. Thanks , are also due to. those Palmerston North firms who supplied covered waggons and lorries to assist with tho transport of cot cases from the railway to the hospitals. I would like to express special thanks to the clerical staff of tho station office for tho assistance afforded me personally, for the use of tho railway telephone servico, and. for the prompt, way in which all enquiries and information received were dealt with.

APPRECIATION OF STAFF,

“I have not specially mentioned any members of the board’s own staff, but feel that I should report to the board that tho two senior typistes in the office, Miss Kavanagh and Miss Johnston, remained almost continuously, on duty for the first five days, and without their services it would not have been possible to carry out the bulletin work and to deal with the handling of supplies for Hawke’s Bay with promptitude. They both did excellent work. In concluding this report I wish to express my great appreciation of tho excellent spirit of co-operation which has been displayed right through by Dr Ward and the medical staff. There was nothing that Dr Ward could do at any time to assist with any branch of the work that was left undone.” THE MEDICAL SIDE.

Tho medical superintendent of the Hospital (Dr Ward) reported as follows on

the hospital administration during tho poriod of evacuation from the Hawke’s Bay district, during tho recent earthquake. “Foli lowing on the broadcast appeal for. medical and nursing assistance, the ambulance with emergency equipment and seven nurees was sent through immediately to Napier, and I followed later in the day, but returned on Wednesday morning on learning that cases were to be evacuated forthwith to tho Palmerston North Hospital. During my absence the organisation of tho Hospital had been in tho capable hands of Dr Putnam, acting medical superintendent, the_ house surgeons (Dr Gillies and Dr Heycock), and the acting matron, Sister Gedney. “Convalescent patients who were fit for discharge were sent homo, one of the isolation blocks Was oponed for medical cases and a few cases were transferred to the Old People’s Home. By this means, and by opening tho upstairs Wilson Ward, approximately one hundred beds were made available for cases from the earthquake area. By early Wednesday afternoon, February 4, the preparations for the treatment and handling of tho large number of cases were complete. Extra splints and bed cradles were made locally or procured from Wellington, and tho wards were fully equipped with extra dressings, etc. Tho honorary and stipendiary medical staffs were augmented by other medical men from the town and district and numerous nurses and ex-nurses came forward to assist in the wards. REVIEW OF ADMISSIONS. “Twenty-two cases were admitted at 5.30 p.m. on 4th February, followed by forty cases at 8 p.m., and a further twenty-four cases at 4 a.m., on sth February. On tho following days further cases were admitted, bringing tho total of Napior and Hastings patients up to 105. When this number was reached it was found necessary to divert cases to Wanganui Hospital, except in those instances where the condition of the patient did not warrant continuance of tho journey. Spocial credit in this respect is due to Dr Putnam, who met all trains on arrival in Palmerston North. “The Convent Hospital, which had boon kindly oponed by the Rev. Mother Winifred, had by this time admitted twentythree cases. This afforded great relief to our own hospital. Our thanks are due to Mother Winifred and tho staff of this temporary hospital. Following on a visit by the Director-General of Hoalth, it was, however, decided that the patients in tho Convent Hospital should be transferred, and on 10th February thirteen cases from thero and ten cases from this Hospital were transferred to the Hawera Hospital. “Resumo of Admissions. —Total patients admitted, 154; total patients discharged, 49; total patients now in Hospital, 104; patients transferred to Wanganui Hospital, 2; patients transferred to Hawera Hospital, 9; total operations performed, 20; total X-ray photographs taken, 121. “It is my pleasure to put on record the high quality of tho work done by everyone associated with the Hospital. It is quite impossible for me to individualise, as evory branch of the hospital staff and numerous outside helpers rose to the occasion magnificiently and did splendid work. In conclusion, I should like to say that the happy co-operation between Mr Phillipps and myself and between the resident staff and the administrative staff has allowed the Hospital organisation to run smoothly without breaking down.”

THE MATRON’S REPORT. Tho Acting-Matron, Miss E. Gedncy, submitted the following report : “There was a ready response from our staff to help in the earthquake area, and the following, equipped with all the necessary requirements, proceeded to tho area:—Sister Henderson, Nurses Black, Walter, MacKay, C. Smart, Whitehead, Rhodes and Martin. All sisters and nurses worked well and off-duty nurses came to our assistance to help in the preparation for the arrival of the many patients from the earthquake area. The domestic staffs in the d:fferent departments and the porters all did their share in tho extra work and long hours. All time off was stopped in the meantime, but I am glad to say that we have been able to start it again as usual.

“The following nurses helped us during our busy time, and their help was much appreciated: Mosdaines Corbridge, Crystal, Brown, Morrison, Williams, Anderson, Graham, Gardon, Dick, Widdowson, Wh ; te, Rowe, Mieses Laing, Jamieson, McGuiness, Iwikau, Mayer, Crook, Sullivan, Deighton, McCrea, Livingston, Anderson, Rulo, Groshenski, Polyglase, Halpin, Browne, Farr, Hall, Whisker, Sinclair, Davidson, Widdowson, Nurse Dur-

ant (Napier), and Nurse Hamm (Napier). The following are to bo thanked for writing letters for the Napier patients: Miss Wilson, Sister Flora Fraser, Miss Mawhinney. s

“Tho following helped in tho sewing room and generally: Mesdamos Speedy, McLeod, Poters, Broderick, Middlemiss, Taylor, Vickers, Bolton, Fay, Misses D. Stairs, Mellea (2), Linklater (2), N. Wood, D’Arcy, Warren. Two ladies from Mossrs Collinson and Cunninghame’s helped with tho sewing, also several others.

“Tho following men came up and shaved the earthquake patients; Messrs Ennis, Fisher, Palmer, Em and Adams. AI. taxis drove voluntary help to and from tho hospital free of charge. Messrs Williams and MoKegg, and Mr Small, dentists, attonded to tho patients’ dental .plates. "Lord and Lady Blodisloe visited all earthquake patients and brought them gifts of tobacco, luxuries and groceries. “The following gifts are acknowledged : Mrs Butcher, eggs and flowers; Mrs Port, poultry; Mrs Firkin, cakes; Mrs Corbridgo, suit of clothes, League of Mothers, oranges: Mrs Garrity, plums and tomatoes ; Mrs Bistossi, magazines; Mrs Middleman, children’s frocks; Mrs S. Palmer, children’s frocks; Friendly Societies’ Council, cigarettes; anonymous, bed jacket; Y.W.C.A. Christchurch, handkerchiefs; anonymous, air ring; Mis 3 Tait, air ring; Mrs Robertson, nightgown; Mrs Doctor Forrost, bandages, iodine, chloroform, etc.; Mrs Dewo, plums and cabbages; Mothers’ Union, peas and apples; Mrs Robb, shortbread; Mrs Crystall, butter. There was a very ready response to our call for old linen; the namos of the porsona responding are too numerous to mention individually.

“The people of Palmerston North have been very hospitablo in providing homes for tho nurses assisting at this hospital, and the following have each accomodated nurses: Mesdaines Gowing. Watson, Richwood, Young and Miss Anderson. Many people have also expressed their willingness to accommodate patients who are in need of a rest, after they leave this hospital. I desire to thank one and all who have assisted us through our busy period and also any whose names may have been omitted.” THANKS FROM NAPIER. The following letter was received from Miss R. Mncdonald, ex-matron of Napier, Hospital: “On behalf of the nursing staff of this Hospital, I desire to thank the members of your board for the wonderfully generous gift of clothing. It is a splendid gift, and tho nurses appreciate the generosity and kindly thoughts of the board very much indeed.” CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT. The chairman (Mr J. K. Ilornblow) briefly summarised tho steps taken to deal with the situation and the offers of assistance made by the board. He said it was a good thing that it had such a perfect organisation able to do a tremendous amount of work without confusion. Tho executive of tho Hospital Boards’ Association would have to establish a national organisation to deal wtih such emergencies. The cost was not woighed in the balance against personal service. Staff members returned voluntarily from holidays to assist. That' spirit permeated the whole institution. It had struck him forcibly that the Hospital was fortunate in having sufficient accommodation to meet a case of this kind. The Hospital was inundated with voluntary offers, and skilled attention was available for all patients. The sorvicos of tho private individuals among the community wero greatly appreciated, and the Hospital was now functioning normally again. Medical men had been sent to assist at the medical camps, and the chairman paid tributo to the solfscrificing work of Mr Aitchison. a member of the board. What the Palmerston North Board had done for the Hawke’s Bay Board would have been carried out by the latter in similar circumstances. The' chairman paid a tribute to the efforts of Mr C. 0. Morse, a Napier business man, who, although he had t suffered serious losaes, had done splendid work for the town.

Thcre was no need for nervousness in connection with tho Palmerston North institution, but for double assurance on examination of the institution should bo made. Tho board would insure against earthquake risk, but was not concerned merely with bricks and mortar. It was solicitous for the welfare of the patients and staff. Tributes were paid by

the chairman to Dr. Ward, Mr. Phillipps, and tho medical and nursing staff. The chairman said ho could not indicate what the cost to the Palmerston North Board would be through the upheaval', but it would not bo heavy. lie sincerely hoped that tho Government I would do its duty by the Hawke’s Bay Board and not allow it to bear any extraordinary expenditure. Detailed accounts of tho board’s expenditure would be supplied lator. Dr. Biggs, medical superintendent at Napier, had asked tho chairman to express his appreciation and also that of Mr Morse, for the work done. The chairman suggested that the payment to bo made by tho Ba,y Board for patients should bo oil the basis of 9s per diem. Mr M. A. Moody said that the spocial thanks of the board should bo accorded Mrs L. A. Abraham for her hard and nobio work on behalf of thp women and children. The chairman endorsed those sentiments. The reports on earthquake relief activities were received.