EMERGENCY HOSPITAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 188, 12 August 1941, Page 4

EMERGENCY HOSPITAL

OPENED IN ST. PAUL’S HALL ACCOMMODATION FOR TROOPS MEASLES CASES FROM WAIOURU Because of the increasing number of soldier patients, due to an outbreak of measles at Waiouru Camp, the Wanganui Hospital Board has opened its emergency hospital in St. Paul’s Hall. By yesterday morning 65 men from Waiouru were in the Wanganui Hospital. and 20 more were admitted during the day. The outbreak is not serious, hut the hospital authorities expect about 20 new patients daily. Provision for a contingency such as that which has now arisen was made by the Wanganui Hospital Board some months ago. Supplies of stretcher beds, blankets, baths, basins and other essentials were purchased and stoved at St. Paul’s. Connections lor water and gas were fitted for immediate use when required. At nine o’clock yesterday morning the board was advised that t’ne emergency hospital would be needed and plans prepared months ago were put into operation. Gas stoves, baths, basins and other conveniences were installed yesterday under the supervision of the board’s architect Mr. C. Newton Hood, and it is expected that the emergency hospital, with 125 beds available, will be ready to receive patients early this afternoon. All soldiers with measles will be transferred to St. Paul’s Hall, but mumps and chicken pox cases, of which there are several from Waiouru. will be retained at the main hospital. Two marquees, loaned to the hospital by the military authorities, have been pitched near the isolation block, but it is not known if they will be required after to-day.

By last night good progress had been made with the work of preparing St. Paul’s Hall. The telephone had been installed and everything was in readiness to receive patients there today. Meals will be prepared at the main hospital, where more facilities are available. It is possible that certain personnel of the auxiliary nursing staff, principally V.A.D.’s, will go to the emergency hospital. Ten patients arrived at the Wanganui Hospital from Waiouru at 1 p.m. yesterday. The men were transported by military ambulance, but a similar number arrived in the evening. For this purpose the Wanganui Free Ambulance made a special trip to Taihape, the men having been conveyed there from Waiouru in the board's Taihape ambulance. It is expected that from to-day furthere soldier patients will be transported from Waiouru by rail. Within recent months the Railways Department has built special ambulance cars which have already been in service on North Island lines. Measles contracted by soldiers in camp at Waiouru are of a mild form, and no serious cases have occurred. It is stated, however, that care is necessary. and that the men will receive every attention in the emergency hospital.