H.S .Emergency Hospital Now Ready For Patients

Northern Advocate, 19 February 1942, Page 2

H.S .Emergency Hospital Now Ready For Patients

Authority to take over the 250-be& soldiers’ emergency hospital at the Whangarei Boys’ High School was received by the Whangarei Hospital Board late last evening.

The hospital will be open to receive patients immediately, the chairman of the board said today. Structural alterations have been brought almost to the point of completion, this work having been carried out by Mr Alf Walker, contractor, under the Public Works Department, on behalf of the Health Department.

The hospital must be used as far as possible for military cases, but patients will be interchangeable between the P'l.blic hospital and the emergency hospital. All operations will be done at the public hospital. In the event of overcrowding at either institution the other may Lie used. Under Hospital Board The emergency hospital will bo under the complete control of the hospital board. Dr. J. W. Hall, of the Whangarei Hospital, will be medical superintendent, and at the emergency hospital. Dr. C. Cooke, who comes irom Hamilton, will be his assistant, and has already taken up residence in Whangarei. Matron V. Hammond has appointed Sister Thomassen, of the Whangarei Hospital staff, as sister-in-charge. Sufficient nursing staff is available for any requirements which may arise. Admirable for Purpose “The Boys’ High School lends itself admirably to the requirements of a hospital, and as such is a very fine institution indeed. Inspecting it today, one would never imagine that it was designed for any other purpose,” Mr Mr Mac Kay continued. Situated well above the town, and overlooking the beautiful native bush of the Western Hills and the extensive high school playing fields, the setting for a place of healing could not be bettered anywhere. A feature of the alterations is a ramp situated on the south-west corner of the building. The pretentious appearance of this has evoked some criticism by laymen, but Mr Mac Kay is unhesitatingly of the opinion that the ramp is essential for the safety of the patients, It is very doubtful, he says, whether the hospital board would have assumed the responsibility for the building unless some such provision for the quick evacuation of patients from the upper storey had been made.

Military patients in the Bay of Islands Hospital are to bo transferred to the emergency nospital without delay.

Today 18 soldier patients suffering from various complaints are accommodated at the District Hospital.