TRIALS OF HOSPITALS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25217, 1 June 1945, Page 6

TRIALS OF HOSPITALS

WORK UNDER HANDICAPS STERILISING PROBLEMS Private hospitals and maternity homes in Auckland are already suffering serious interference to lighting, cooking and sterilising as a result of gas and electricity shortages and it is stated that any shut-down of power will prove serious. "The other night when word came through that a shut-down was likely we were in the middle of an urgent operation, and if the lighting had been cut off it might have caused the patient's death," said the matron of one city maternity hospital. It would have been most hazardous to carry on such an operation by candlelight. Many of the hospitals have electrical apparatus for sterilising and this has become a problem since the cuts in gas and electricity. Most hospitals reported that they were managing to sterilise small instruments with water heated on open fires, but the sterilising of large bowls and similar apparatus, and of the gowns worn by theatre staffs, was causing the greatest worry. Heating is also required for the treatment of shock patients, and gas and electricity shortages are hampering such treatments. The loss of the use of refrigerators is similarly handicapping nursing staffs. "It is not the electricity but the gas that worries us," said the matron of a private "hospital. "If we had not, had a coke heater we should have had to close down." Another hospital reported that the position had never been worse. . CRUISER GAMBIA PART IN OPERATIONS (Reed. 11.10 p.m.) LONDON. May 31 The British aircraft-carrier Indefatigable, the Canadian cruiser Uganda and the New Zealand cruiser Gambia are named today as taking part in the operations against targets in the Sakasnima Islands, between Formosa and Okinawa. PRICES FOR FISH NEW ORDER OPPOSED (P. A.) DUNE DIN, Thursday At a meeting of fishermen from Taieri Mouth, Karitane and Port Chalmers and Dunedin retailers to discuss the new prices, which have been gazetted and are operative from June 4, the following resolution was carried: "That no fishing or retailing will be carried on under the new orders pending a satisfactory agreement and reconsideration by the Government. The present system could be operated. An urgent reply is awaited."Mr A. J. Black, who presided, said that fishermen were concerned at the possibility that there would be no fish for the public, but under the new. order it would be impossible to operate except at a loss, -As yet the Fishermen's Society had received no official notification from the Government regarding the new prices. POLICE OFFICER'S DEATH COLLAPSE AFTER ACCIDENT (0.C.) GISBORNE. Thursday The death occurred at Tatapouri last evening, following a motor accident, of Inspector Donald Archibald Mac Lean, of the Gisborne police force. Mr MacLean was driving to Gisborne on his return from Ruatoria, where he had been carrying out his annual inspection. Apparently he had a momentary seizure and his car left the road, ran up a bank and turned over on its hood. He walked about half a mile tr» the Tatapouri Hotel, and was about to telephone the Gisborne police station for assistance when he collapsed and died. Mr Mac Lean had served for 40 years in the police force, having joined in Dunedin in 1905. He went to Russell and Wailii as constable and later served in Wellington, Gisborne, Wanganui and Greymouth. He had been in charge of the Gishorne district since 1940. He is survived by his wife, two sons in the Air Force and two daughters.