Evening star., 1942-12-30

SeVen nunQTeQ ana IOfJy-HVe OF
the approximately 100 hospital
beds requested in the proposed hos
pital expansion plan for Washing
ton can be furnished without any
construction and 172 more can be
supplied with minor construction
| Maury Maverick director of the
governmental division of WPB, told
the Senate District Committee to-
day.
He reported further that 262 beds
could be added for tubercular pa
tients without construction and that
66 more could be made available
with slight construction. He said
/ 100 extra beds could be put in at
Soldiers Home, but that they would
be dificult for patients to use at
the present time
Mr.. Mavericks statement was in
the nature OF report on conclu-
sions reached by two consuItants
who since November have been at
work on a survey for the War Pro-
duction Board to determine how
many more hospital beds could be
supplied in Washington without US
ing vital war materials to construct
new buildings. Federal Works
Agency applications for priorities on
! materials needed in the proposed
expansion program have been held
| up in the meantime until the study
could be completed, and it was to
investigate the purpose OF this de-
lay that the Senate District Com
mittee hearing was called.
17s Of 6,130 Beds o. X.
OF the 1,lOO-odd beds desired, Mr.
Maverick said, application had been
made for 6l3, of which l78 already
have been approved He declared
that with utilization Of space the re-
naming 435 could be supplied.
Even these figures. though they
speak for themselves, he said. are
misleading because, when all appli-
cations are made. "it seems they
can be heavily adjusted downward
with cooperation and common
sense being used by all parties"
The directors report took In %
general hospitals containing 4,007
beds and four tubercular hospitals
containing 1.0l2 beds. 1t was
pointed out that at least part,
and in some cases large ma jority.
of the additional beds sought by
most OF the Districts major hos
pltals could be supplied without
providing new buildings.
At Gallinger, where 235 beds are
sought. it was pointed out that 147
could be added without construction
and 68 with minor construction.
He gave the following conclu-
sions concerning additions at other
major hospitals:
i Georgetown, Isl beds asked, 33
available without construction, 38
with minor construction: Sibley, So
beds asked. % available without
construction: Emergency. 70 beds
asked 66 available without con-
/ struction, 18 with minor construc-
ton.
Problem Called National.
Without minimizing the impor-
tance OF the Districts applica-
tions,' Mr.. Maverick said, hundreds
of communities throughout the
United States are in need of and
clamoring for additional hospital
facilities. The almost unbelievable
influx of war workers and their FAM
| lilies into industrial centers has Gre
ated national problem OF tremen-
dous import"
He said that from a national
viewpoint. because of the shortage
of materials, hospital authorities
had found it necessary seriously to
consider the suggestion that dor
mant resorts. spas, seaside hotels
even colleges and schools which may
close for the duration-be converted
into temporary hospitals wherever
possible. He made no suggestions,