HOSPITAL WARDS IN BASEMENT

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21553, 16 January 1940, Page 8

HOSPITAL WARDS IN BASEMENT

EMERGENCY PREPARATIONS Some idea of the emergency organisation which went on in most London hospitals just prior to the outbreak of war was given by Miss Mary C. Marshall, of Penrose, who has returned to Auckland after an absence in England of five years. Miss Marshall went to England to study dietetics, taking a six months’ course at the Royal Northern Hospital and another at the University College Hospital, London. After qualifying as a dieiitian Miss Marshall did relieving work at Moorfield’s Eye Hospital, where dietitians were in charge of the entire catering and wheie she gained much valuable experience. Later she became attached to the permanent staff of the University College Hospital, where she was dietitian in charge of the private patients’ wing. The last week of her duty at this hospital prior to leaving for New Zealand was assisting to dismantle the dietetic kitchen which, as it was situated in the basement, was turned into a ward.

Miss Marshall said that only the basement and first floor of this building were to be used during the war and the building was sandbagged to first floor level. In most of the London hospitals, she continued, similar precautions had been taken. Immediately prior to the outbreak of war most patients in all London hospitals had been evacuated and the majority of beds kept vacant to deal with emergency cases after a possible air raid. Restrictions had now, however, been somewhat relaxed and urgent cases for operation were taken in, while outpatients’ departments were also running again. Every hospital, however, kept a certain percentage of beds always vacant.

Miss Marshall, who went to England for one year and remained for nearly five, had already resigned her position and booked her return passage to New Zealand well prior to the outbreak of war. Her departure was delayed, however, due to shipping difficulties.