Evening star., 1942-08-17
FWA Completes
Survey Of Space
In Hospitals
Action Due Soon
To Get Funds for
More Facilities

A survey to determine the amount
of hospital space available in the
Washington Metropolitan Area has
just been completed by the Federal
Works Agency as prelude to pro-
viding additional facilities, 1t was
learned today.
The disclosure of the action taken
by the FWA followed a request
Saturday by Chairman McCarran of
the Senate District Committee that's
the committe counsel, r. F. CANA,
lier, open an investigation to find
out what steps were being taken by
officials in charge of emergency
funds to alleviate crowded hospital
conditions in the District and near
by States.
Action to obtain part of the ST.,
100000 set aside under Title w Of
the Lanham Act for necessary war
projects may be started in about
a week, an FWA official said today.
The survey was made necessary, it,
was said, in order to obtain critical
construction materials through a
War Production Board prioritiesr
order.
Estimate Of Population Made.
Under the criterion established
by the WPB and the FWA for hos,
pital facilities in the so-called vital
areas, four beds per 1000 population, !,
are considered adequate.
The FWA has also made an esti-
mate of the population in the Dis
trict and nearby counties to corre- +,
late this figure with the number of !.
beds available The unprecedented,
migration of newcomers into this
area made 1t difficult, it was saidy tos
arrive at reasonably accurate fig
ure.
AS soon as the analysis of the sur
vey Is completed, the FWA official
explained, permission to erect addi-
tional hospital facilities will be :
sought first from the District War
Area Board, having Jurisdiction over ;
public works war projects in the Dis
trict, Arlington and Fairfax Coun-
ties and Alexandria, and from the :,
Maryland Vital Area Board which
control such projects in Prince
Georges and Montgomery Counties. >
The vital area boards were set up
in communities where war work has
created congestion to rule on the
necessity for public projects sought
by local officials. The findings of
these boards in relation to the hos
pital situation here will be trans. /,
mitted to the WPB for final deci-
| sion.
Fleming Approval Required.
| Necessary funds for hospital prof. :
ects deemed necessaryawill be avail
able as soon as Brig. Gen. Philip B.
Fleming, FWA administrator, ap-
proves the projects Gen. Fleming
| is also in charge of ailocating funds
appropriated by Congress under the
Lannam Act.
A possible 225-bed addition to CAL
linger Hospital is being considered
by officials. The FWA is also study
ing the possibilities of enlarging in
| firmary facilities in nearby counties ?
with view to relieving the pres :
sure on hospitals in the District.
| A complicating factor. the FWAz
| spokesman said, was the shortage Of
trained hospital personnel in this /,
| area. =
Doctor Shortage Studied.
''If you provide more room, you've :
got to get larger staffs," he pointed
out. This is major problem ing
connection with new projects in view
of the current shortages of doctors :
and nurses" He added that the Dis-A
trict Health Department was study
ing this phase of the situation. n
Senator McCarrans action re-
questing an immediate inquiry intor
plans for increased hospital spacer,
grew out of hearing before hisIl
committee Saturday on a bill to
exempt charitable, religious and ed-r
ucational institutions from the pay-5
ment of property taxes The Senator g
pointed out that an epidemic of anys
proportions at this time would find
the Capital entirely unprepared to9
cope with it. 4
He explained that his chief motives
in renewing agitation for enlargeds
hospital facilities was to lend hisi
support to any action taken in thisI
direction.