Evening star., 1953-09-10
Health BUDGET
Calls for Boost
Of S11 Million
includes Funds
For New Buildings
At General Hospital

A whopping District Health
Department budget of $33, $685.
81, including funds for new tu-
berculosis and psychiatric build
ingS at District General Hos
pital, has been proposed to the
Commissioners for the fiscal
year 1855.
More than $11 million higher
than this years appropriations,
the estimate carries $8,879, 800
for physical improvements to the
city's health plant.
The rest is for operating ex-
penSes, of which the care of
more than $500 District resi-
dents in st. Elizabeths Hospital
is slated to take a $9,7O2 6l3
chunk.
This item appears in the
Health Department budget this
year rather than in that of the
Department of Public Welfare
as a result of the reorganization
of the District government. st.
Elizabeths is under jurisdiction
Of the Federal Government, but
the city is charged for the care
of its mental patients there.
3O0-Bed Building Planned.
The proposed new construc-
tion under the budget request
includes $3.4 million for a new
3O0-bed tuberculosis building on
the grounds of District General
Hospital. OF the amount, ST.
350.000 would become available
next year. and the rest the fol-
lowing year.
Also to fight tuberculosis
the No. killer among commu-
nicable diseases in the District
the Department asks a new
mobile X-ray unit with which
to ferret out cases in the low
income, poor housing areas.
The proposed psychiatric
building would cost an estimated
$2,250,000, with $595,00 to be-
come available next year and
the rest in the two succeeding
years. The present psychiatric
group at the hospital was built
in 1922 and is considered OBJ
solete.
Other Units in Project.
In addition, District General
Hospital would get a 100000 op-
Grating suite addition and an
1925, 900 dormitory for residents
and internes under the budget
proposal.
For Glenn Dale Hospital.
construction of a utility shop to
cost $175,000 and alterations to
the laboratory costing $4,000
are requested. Another 5000, 900
is asked for a site for the long
sought Northwest Health Gen.
ter
Some of the increases request
ed for next year are based on the
expected expiration of Federal
grants from the United States
Public Health Service. This year,
$175,000 of Federal money was
cut off. Next year a cut of at
least $61 $50 is expected.
The Health Department wants
to employ nine social workers
and four clinic investigators in
District General, Freedmen's S
and private contract hospitals to
investigate the ability of patients
to pay at least part of their ex-
penses. The department believes
this work would save the city
money.
Lack of Funds May Close Clinic.
The Commissioners were ad-
vised that unless money is ap-
propriated for two physicians for
the cancer program, the clinic
will have to close at the end Of
this fiscal year. The Federal
Government has served notice
that it's grant for their work will
be discontinued.
The department seeks in
creased appropriations for ma
ternity and infant welfare and
child health. Last year, the
Bureau of Maternal and Child
Welfare's prenatal clinic was
discontinued for lack of funds
and the work transferred to Dis
trict General Hospital.
Two public health nursing
supervisors and 25 public health
nurses are sought to take care
of heart and cancer patients and
to instruct patients on diabetes.