EMERGENCY HOSPITALS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24793, 18 December 1941, Page 6

EMERGENCY HOSPITALS

ORGANISATION COMPLETED BUILDINGS EARMARKED 21,000 ADDITIONAL BEDS (PA) WELLINGTON, Dec. 17. Details of a plan for emergency hospitals were released to-day by the Minister of Health, Mr A. H. Nordmeyer. The selection and organisation of these institutions, he said, had been proceeding for some time and arrangements had now been completed to ensure mutual help between groups oi hospital boards. Full responsibility for the establishment and maintenance of any emergency hospital was placed upon the local hospital board under the general supervision and direction of the Health Department. The scheme, Mr Nordmeyer said, provided for an organisation which was separate from the local Emergency Precautions Service, but which .had a close liaison with the medical and transport committees of that service. The emergency hospitals service was designed to deal with widespread epidemics, local disasters and casualties from enemy action, and for the purpose of ensuring as much mutual assistance as possible between contiguous boards, groups were formed, each under a group officer, who would have control of all hospital board districts in his area. This method had resulted in the preparation of arrangements within each group on a standard basis to meet any eventuality and would provide the maximum accommodation and treatment at any given point. It also provided for transport facilities and accommodation if any evacuation of patients from one district to another should be necessary. Reserves of Equipment

The surveys made by the Health Department and hospital boards had resulted in the completion of a scheme by which existing hospital accommodation could immediately be expanded to the fullest extent to provide the best facilities for treatment. Scores of suitable buildings had been earmarked throughout the Dominion as emergency hospitals and classified for the reception of different types of cases. In an extreme emergency 21,000. additional beds could be provided. Reserves of equipment and supplies had been purchased by hospital boards and stored for emergency purposes should the need arise. Medical, nursing and' other personnel had been organised within each group on a plan worked out locally. Surgical teams had been assigned to appropriate hospitals and mobile surgical and medical teams had been arranged to be made available to deal with exceptional pressure at any hospital or any given point. Voluntary Nurses

Cdntact had been made with all exnurses for emergency duties, and voluntary aids who hold Red Cross and St. John certificates had been receiving 60 hours’ training in public hospitals, and will be used during an emergency. The register of voluntary aids so trained to-date numbers 3000, and other female workers are receiving training at public hospitals for kitchen and laundry work and will be used for emergency hospital duties. Evacuation measures, transport, emergency X-ray and laboratory facilities, blood transfusion services, emergency sterilisation facilities and fire protection measures are but a few of the numerous details of the scheme, which has been carefully thought out and amplified by the hospital boards into a scheme to meet any emergency