Evening star., 1943-01-09
Hospitals
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10SpIt0lS
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two reasons to carry the projects to
the contractual stage before the
WPB was consulted.
Procedure Outlined.
These were:
l. In order to obtain information
from which to determine what crit
ical materials were needed so that
application could be made for prior
tiles.
2. In order to be sure that the
projects were sound from an engi-
neering and architectural stand
point and that they could be car
ried out in the form desired.
Materials on which priorities were
asked, it was explained, were in con-
formity to an agreement as to es-
sential war materials drawn up be-
tween the WPB and FWA last July.
Projects on which the WPB has
given priority ratings are the addi-
ton of $50 general beds at Gallinger
Hospital. now more than so per cent
complete, and expansion of the
waiting room and admittance Office
at Children's Hospital. Proposal for
the addition of Isl beds at George
town was approved only in that part
calling for conversion of the old
Threlkeld School into a nurses
school and recreation hall, a move
estimated to release enough existing
space to add % general hospital
beds.
Action Was Speeded.
The good faith" mentioned by
Gen. Fleming was demonstrated
further in the speed with which
the FWA, spurred by public in
sistence and congressional COM
mittee hearing, began to clear the
way for the most urgent of the
projects. At Georgetown, for in
stance, three old buildings on Pros
pect avenue were demolished to
make way for nurses home and
the interior walls of the Threlkeld
School were torn out.
This preparatory work at George
town {, took away temporarily its
morgue and diet laboratory, both of
which will be restored in the ap-
proved Threlkeld project. But the
demolition of the three buildings
now stands as useless in the face Of
TIE WPB's lock on priorities.
) Other projects now held up are
l35 general and 100 maternity beds
at Gallinger; 100 beds each in Ar
lingtop and Prince Georges Coun-
ties and at Bethesda and Alex
andria; So beds at Sibley, 70 beds
at Emergency, A beds at Garfield,
"a beds at Columbia and % beds at
Montgomery County General Hos
pital.
Georgetown Case Discussed.
Since the WPB blocked FWA ef-
forts, officials Of Georgetown and
Sibley as well as OF other affected
institutions, have assumed an air
of resignation, mainly, they explain,
because the expansion program was
not their idea in the beginning. The
Rev. David w. McCauley, regent OF
the Georgetown Medical and Den
tai School and spokesman for
Georgetown Hospital at the recent
Senate District Committee hearing
on the program delay, gave the con-
sensus.
How're we going to get along?"
he repeated when asked concerning
the WPB action which reduced
Georgetown's expansion program
from ISL beds to % beds. Lets go
back little.
1T was the Health Security Ad-
ministration and District groups
that first started agitation for hos
pital expansion. They were alarmed
over the rapidly increasing popula-
ton and they feared the effects OF
an epidemic. They asked us to think
about the matter and to do what we
could do add more beds.
Shortages Recognized.
1--WE knew that there was a bed
shortage, but we also knew that
there was a shortage of nurses and
hospital attendants, particularly Or
derlies. The personnel situation al
ready was beginning to be grave and
we knew it would be even worse If we
expanded. However, in answer to in
sistence from Federal and local au-
thorities and in an effort to be CO.
operative, we eventually agreed upon
program In collaboration with
FWA.
I'VE went to trouble and We went
to expense In an effort to get this
program under way. Now, If the
Federal Government thinks We can
lay this program aside merely by
crowding up in existing space, well
and good. It will save us a lot of
trouble. It wasn't our worry in the
beginning. We were merely trying
to help out in an emergency"
Father McCauley also recalled
that Georgetown had gone even
further in its efforts to cooperate.
He explained that 1t had offered the
Government half a block near
Georgetown Hospital to be used in
any way 1t saw At to aid the hospital
situation.
Sibley Marking Time.
While the War Production Board
is proceeding with its efforts to have
the program revised, Sibley Hospital
Is marking time with six empty
buildings on its hands. These were
emptied Of tenants In answer to a
request from the Federal Works
Project to have details In readiness