Evening star., 1937-11-30
new HOPE FOUND
FORCALL|NCERA|D
Budget Bureaus Sympa-
thetic Attitude Reported
for 3-P0int Plan.

Encouraged by signs OF support
from friends in Congress and from
the Budget Bureau, the Commits
sioners expressed themselves today as
more hopeful" of securing addi-
tional funds for improved medical
care at Gallinger Municipal Hospital
and the relief Of its overcrowded
wards.
AZ a result Of sympathetic hear
ing before budget officials late yes
terday at which the acute needs of the
hospital were fully presented during
review of all estimates for the 1899
budget, the hopes of the Commits
sioners appeared to be based on the
following anticipstions:
l. A liberal allowance or extra
nurses for Gallinger "externe' serv-
ice extending into the homes, which
would reduce the number Of hos
pitali1ed patients and reduce conges-
ton at Gallinger.
Hope for Convalescent Beds.
I. Funds to take over the aban-
doned Upshur Street tuberculosis
Hospita. as home for convalescent
patients, thereby further reducing the
congestion at Gallinger by providing
. minimum of $50 beds.
;. Provision for permanent quarters
Tor the Health Department Permit
Bureau, which faces election from
rented quarters at 90l Eighth street
NV.
The Commissioners declined to COM
ment on their visit to the Budget
Bureau, except to say through Com
missioner George E. Allen that the
outlook for Gallinger receiving suffi-
eient funds to tide it over an acute
situation was "very encouraging"
1t was learned from reliable sources,
however, that the three relief meas
ures outlined above represent the
maximum of their hopes.
It is not likely that the Budget
Bureau at this time will approve the
restoration of an item of $l50,OO0 to
start immediate construction of a
1O0-bed medical building at Gallinger.
While the Commissioners and the
Health Department would like to see
this sum inserted in the 1899 budget,
1t was believed today that its omis-
sion would not seriously handicap
the hospital if the other proposals are
met.
Meanwhile. a gift of 5000 in labo-
ratory and surgical equipment to GAL
hnger in an effort to relieve some of
the most pressing needs of the institu-
ton was announced by Mrs. Anne
Archbold, 1905 Reservoir road NV.
She said it appeared that the Commits
sioners and Congress must be shamed
into their duty to Gallinger Hospital
BY donations from private citizens"
Copeland Promises Aid.
Offers of aid came today from Sen
ator Copeland, Democrat, of New York,
who promised to bring the needs of
Gallinger to the attention of the Dis
trict Subcommittee of the Senate Ap-
preparations Committee. Senator
Copeland took the view that recent
criticisms of Gallinger Hospital are
the result of the inadequate appro-
priations by Congress to care for the
number of patients sent to the hos
pital.
Chairman King of the Senate Dis
trict Committee also promised sympa-
thetic consideration for any requests
for additional funds to provide more
adequate service at Gallinger
In the light of Senator Copeland's
statement, interest centered on the
attitude taken by Health Officer George
c. Rutland in his reply to Representa-
tive Collins, Democrat, of Mississippi.
who had complained of blame being
attached on Congress for the lack of
funds to conduct the hospital eff
GENTLY.
DR.. Rutland said that ito hold
Congress solely responsible for this
situation would be certainly unfair"
He blamed it rather on "the accumu-
1ative effect of years of insufficient
planning" and added that conditions
were due in part because those OF
us who are ofiicially responsible for
service have somehow failed to con-
vince the appropriating bodies of
the necessity that exists"
Rutland May Present Needs.
10 appear before the Budget Bureau
yesterday to give his views on the
number of additional nurses needed
1T Gallinger, but he Is expected to
be called on during the week At
previous times, he has said minimum
Of "a additional nurses Is required
The plan to provide a cooperative
"externe" nursing service has worked
out successfully in other cities BY
visiting patients III their homes un-
til such time as when admission to
the hospital is necessary, the number
Of daily admissions at Gallinger would
be greatly reduced.
The Health Department already has
initiated a home delivery service" in
connection with obstetrical cases which,
DR.. Ruhland said, will save $4,000 a
year.
The Commissioners are very desir-
Street Hospital as q receiving home for
convalescent patients as the Health
Department proposes.
This old hospital was originally
planned for $50 beds, but frequently
before the transfer Of patients to the
new tuberculosis sanatorium at Glenn
Dale, it provided accommodations for
as many as 220 beds. This was made
possible by utilizing space in corridors
and sun parlors.
Overcrowding Seen as Mistake.
It would be mistake, in the opinion
Of the Health Department. again to
crowd the Upshur street building with
200 or more patients. The main pur-
pose OF such move would be to relieve
congestion at Gallinger and If the
patients removed from that institu-
ton 60 to another equally crowded, it
would be . constant source of dissat-
isfaction. For that reason, it was be-
lieved, no more than $50 convalescents
would be provided quarters at the old
upshur street hospital If it is turned
90