Evening star., 1942-07-04
Temporary Pavilion
Plan Agreed On for
Hospital Expansions
Housing Bill Signing
Finds Many Details
Still Undecided, However

Government and private medlcal
authorities were cheered today by
the signing into law of the war
housing bill, which will permit ex-
pansion of hospital beds in and near
Washington, though officials still
struggled with details of relieving
hospital and nursing shortages.
Hope for solutions was based on
surveys being made by a special
committee named recently by Com
missioner Guy Mason and on studies
undertaken by members OF the
Health Subcommittee of the Civilian
Mobilization Committee of the Dis
trict Civilian Defense Corps.
Commissioner Mason announced
last night that officials had agreed
on the construction of temporary
pavilions for additional hospital beds
at Georgetown, Garfield. Columbia
and Childrens Hospitals. Earlier
plans contemplated using nurses
quarters for this purpose and erect
ing temporary new nurses quar-
ters, except at Georgetown, where
an old schoolhouse was to be
remodeled. Mr.. Mason was ad-
vised that it would be cheaper to
erect patient pavilions than to re-
model present nurses quarters as
wards.
Nurse Shortage Cited.
The Civilian Mobilization Health
Committee has been advised by
members of Commissioner Mason, S
special committee, it was reported,
that there is a shortage of 220 floor
nurses in Washington hospitals. The
Mason committee will recommend
five steps for immediate relief ana
longtime planning. These are:
Possibility of getting married
nurses to return to duty; oetter
wages for nurses and better working
conditions; provision for day care
for children so that mothers who
are nurses can be free to work IN
hospitals; increased use of Red Cross
aides, and development of training
centers for nurses.
The Office of Civilian Defense
considered reports that five hospl-
tails have discontinued their nursing
schools and it questioned whether
these hospitals would open up train
ing centers for practical nurses"
1t was agreed by the OCD COM
mittee that the latter was not prac-
tical, due to shortage of help In all
fields and the wage differential
between private duty and Govern
ment nursing jobs. B. B. Sandldge,
Emergency Hospital superintendent,
told the group that hospital super
intendants would welcome recomen-
dations on standard wages and
working conditions.
Up to FWA.
Just what proposals will be ad-
vanced for use of the War Housing
Act monies for new hospital facilities
will depend upon findings by the
Federal Works Agency. The War
Housing Act carries a total appro-
priation of $32,500,OO0 of which
17,5OO 900 is for public works, in
Guiding hospitals, schools, sewers
and water mains.
District Health Officer George C.
Ruhland has sent one of his inspec-
| tors to nearby military camps to
assist in identifying contacts in
venereal disease cases and to CO.
operate in supplying military police
with service where needed in Wash
ington. Dr. Rutland told the OCD
group some difficulties had been
encountered in getting the Office of
the District corporation counsel to
assist in legal prosecution where
individuals failed to take treatment
in cases of infection.
A subcommittee on protection of
food and milk supplies found it
important that arrangements be
made to provide identification of
trucks carrying food and milk sup
plies throughout the city during
| black-outs.