INFECTIOUS DISEASES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20339, 21 August 1929, Page 12

INFECTIOUS DISEASES.

■"NEW BLOCK AT HOSPITAL.

-BOARD'S ACTION OPPOSED.

COUNCIL OF WOMEN PROTEST.

MEDICAL OPINIONS DIFFER. Protests against tho erection of Iho • ". proposed infectious diseases block in tho '/-"Auckland Hospital grounds on the site prepared below the main building were " i made at a meeting of the Hospital Board

yesterday by Dr. E. B'. Gunson, a member of the board, and by a deputation from the National Council of Women, headed by tho president, Miss B. E. Crtfflahan, A written protest was also received from residents of tho Grafton district.

It was stated by the chairmnn, Mr. W. Wallace, that the board-had-the-support of medical authorities and that' it had accordingly almost definitely committed

itself to the completion of tho work

A report by Dr. C. E. Maguire, medical superintendent, stated thero was absolu-

tely no danger of infection among residents of Grafton through an isolation block being erected in tho hospital

grounds. Infectious diseases were not air-borne, being conveyed through per-

sonal contact, infected food, water and ■j clothing. Malaria was carried by a particulaf species of mosquito, and the remedy for this disease lay in waging a campaign against tho pest.

Tho chairman said the block was one ' for which tho medical superintendent had asked for a long time. After spending £SOOO or £6OOO on foundation work it would be futile to reconsider the question unless very good reasons were revealed for tho abandoning of the project. The scheino had tho approval of tho medical branch Jof tho Health Department, Dr. Watt, assistant-direclor-general of health, having first advocated tho extension of facilities for dealing with infectious diseases / and approving tho site. The hospital honorary staff approved the scheme and "eminent visiting medical men had also .ngroed that tho silo was a proper one. Objection to Alternative Use. Dr. E. B. Gunson said a number of ■ the honorary staff had told him they wcro not in favour of the scheme, and a largo

number of medical men in Auckland had

expressed similar views. There was a considerable body of medical opinion, in Auckland against the erection of an infectious diseases block in tho hospital grounds and the board could not disregard that entirely. "Reference has been made to an altornativo use for the proposed block," Dr. Gunson soid. ' I have the strongest objections to that. It would exaggerate tho present, scattered nature of the hospital and from an administrative viewpoint it would be economically unsound. It cannot be considered seriously." Tho block would bo about 300vds. from (ho main building, labora-

•. lories and X-ray department. Nursing arrangements should also be considered seriously. Nursing accommodation was already heavily ti>xed and the • -position would be aggravated if a further 200 beds were added to the hospital. [■) There was admittedly serious danger of -cross-infection and this had occurred in [-•"the past. Conditions would not bo improved bv running an infectious, diseases • • hospital in conjunction with the general ;■ hospital. Nurses would intermingle and cross Infection would remain a serious question. " Every Justification." Mr. E. H. Potter said tho scheme had been considered and unanimously approved iiy the hospital staff. Not one protest had • - been made again&t the site for the block, and a resolution by the staff expressing approval was on record. Consideration had been given to the service available from tho pathological block and A-ray department. "Is it not a fact that 111 *' / America and Canada some hospital • ■ authorities to-day arc recommending that ; infectious wards should bo part of the hospital block ?" Mr. Potter asked. Dr. Gunson: That is in big cities where tliev aro short of space. ""There is every justification for the building being erected on this site, Mr. potter said. . . Dr. Gunson: That is your opinion. - Mr. Potter: That is the considered opinion of leading medical men in Auck- '• land. It was represented to ns as being unanimous. Tho deputation waited upon the board ) at this stage. Anxiety Not Diminished. Dr. Hilda Northcroft said that when a • • deputation from the council waited on the "board some time ago extreme anxiety was expressed at the board s intention to erect the block in the hospital grounds. "That anxiety has in no way diminished," Dr. Northcroft said. "It has rather been increased by the board s own action in tho treatment of cases on tho steamer Maui Pomare. It then admitted it had no place where it could effectively isolate patients. We are liable to have anothor epidemic of that sort, and if we ■"have no place where we can put patients it seems it will be a desperate state of affairs for a city of this size. That ad- ■" mission by tho board has very greatly '■' increased our anxiety. It is most desirable to have an isolation hospital ivhere isolation can bo carried out. "Because you aro building residential quarters for tho nurses, it does not mean you are going to stop the nurses from ■ mingling.' Sho urged that tho block should bo placed in some district it would bo possible to have sufficient space to ensure thorough isolation. .-At present parents saw their children, although this was against the rules. "We beg you earnestly to reconsider your decision and seo if it is not possible to secure a proper site," sho said. "y^ c urge you not to go on with tho building of the hospital on tho present site." Medical Staff's Approval.

'Mrs. M. Dreaver said Auckland women felt very strongly on the point. "Wo do not feel patients in the infectious diseases wards arc. isolated, and we want to know why you did not choose a spot out in tho suburbs," she said. Tho proposed f,ito was not ideal. AH laundry would go past tho main building, thero would bo intermingling among tho nurses, and the block would be closo to buildings and the Domain Drive. "You are going to the expense of putting up this big building and you almost admit it will bo only temporary," Mrs. Dreaver added. "Wo aro not speaking idly; women everywhere are speaking about it." -The Rev. \V.- C. Wood later expressed tho hope that the question would not be pursued at tho moment, - 110 thought discussion should bo delayed until tenders wero received.

■ .'"lf any mistake has been made in this ) matter, it lies at the door of our medical advisers," the chairman said. Ho stated that a meeting of over 30 members of i.tho honorary stuff had endorsed the proposal unanimously. "We have cornc to -•this decision with full knowledge that V'° medical skiff was behind us," Mr. . iWallaco added. .The discussion then lapsed.