PARALYSIS CASES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22775, 8 July 1937, Page 16

PARALYSIS CASES

HOSPITAL CONGESTION

USE OF WILSON HOME IMMEDIATE OPENING SOUGHT In order to relieve pressure on the Auckland Hospital, every bod in which is now occupied, the Hospital Board is seeking the authority of the Government to open the Wilson Home for Crippled Children immediately for the accommodation and treatment of children suffering from the after-effects of infantile paralysis. Before his departure for Wellington yesterday afternoon to consult Health Department officials upon the hospital building scheme, the chairman of the hoard, tho Rev. W. C. Wood, stated that at a meeting in committee on Tuesday night.tho board had directed him to seek permission for the opening of the homo with tho least possible delay. More Facilities Needed There were several reasons for this, Mr. Wood explained. In the first place, there was acute congestion in the Auckland Hospital, where child victims of the infantile paralysis epidemic were being treated. Secondly, more facilities were needed for the treatment of the after-effects of the disease by means of remedial exorcises, especially those which, in accordance with modern practice, were carried out in a miniaturo swimming bath. Already some difficulty was being found in providing for this work at the hospital, and as more children would soon be requiring tho treatment it was essential that something should bo done promptly. The Health Department had suggested that before tho Wilson Home was opened certain structural alterations should be made to the buildings in order to bring them into line with hospital practice. The board was not altogether in agreement with this, feeling that a home-like atmosphere should bo maintained. It was now intended to ask for leave to open the home immediately as it was, but to erect an additional building there with baths and other treatment facilities. Additions to Infirmary Mr. Wood said he also intended to discuss with tho Minister of Health, the Hon. P. Fraser, a proposal that further wards for male patients should he provided at tho Auckland Infirmary, in order to relievo the general hospital. Tho board had lately added a floor to tho women's block, and the present plan was to enlarge the men's side of tho institution. This would enable a number of convalescent and chronic cases to bo transferred. Such patients could bo treated equally well at the infirmary at lower cost, and their beds in the general hospital would be available for acute cases.

Such a scheme, together with the opening of the chest hospital, said the chairman, should ensure that the Auckland Hospital, when rebuilt on the linos now proposed, would suffice for a long time to come.