HOSPITAL DULL

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7451, 27 May 1911, Page 1

HOSPITAL DULL

POSITION NOT ALARMING ONLY ROOM FOR URGENT CASES. The Wellington Hospital authorities, have been obliged to notify the public that only very urgent , cases can now Ijo taken into the institution owing to its crowded slate. There arc over 300 inmates, an unusually largo number, duo to the'fact that the old* hospital lias had to lx? pulled down and measles and scarlet fever are epidemic.

The Medical Superintendent (Dr Hardwick Smith) states that the aljsenco of a children’s hospital means an addition ■of -10, or 50 patients to the general hospital, which now. contains fifty more* than, its normal complement. There are forty scarlet fever cases, and three or four of measles, both -of these diseases Doing more than, iisually prevalent this year. It is fortunate that the new fever hospital is available. Dr Hardwick Smith stated that it has been of splendid service since it was opened ,in December; None of tho nurses havo.contracted scarlet fever i.u tho new buildings, though many of them did so in tho old hospital, while tho .complications from which tho imtients suffer have been fewer than before. “I am delighted with tho working of that section, of tho , added tho Medical. Superintendent. NO CAUSE FOR. ALARM.

■ The position is wot, regarded as alarm, ing, as many of the’ oases in hospital are bronchial. due to the bad weather, and complications following measles. , The District Health , Officer was also approached for bis opinion regarding the prevalence of infectious disease ibis winter. He replied that the cases are more than usually numerous, a fact which, was due mainly to the mildness of the measles causing parents to lessen their viligance in preventing contacts.