AFTER years of planning the Bega District Hospital was finally built and officially opened by Robert Lucas Tooth. After the ceremony a reporter from the Bega Standard was among those who had a look through the institution.
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OVER a chain away on the eastern side of the hospital, at the back of the kitchen, is the infectious ward, of weatherboard, roofed with iron to hold two beds, whilst on the opposite side on the same line and equidistant from the south-west corner, is the dead house.
The walls are 14ft high through the main building and with ceilings all plastered. The walls of the wings are the same height, and they are all covered with sheet iron and ceilinged with pine.
Ellen Clarke was appointed matron, "her lack of training provided no obstacle in those days of 'natural nurses', when training had not been commenced" (Bayley's History of Bega).
Not long after opening, the need for necessities were such that the community was called on to support the hospital. The secretary requested the Bega Standard to ask its readers for contributions of pieces of old, but clean, linen or calico, which would be gratefully received. Donations of cash, vegetables, flowers, preserves and cows for milking were sought and received.
The first patient at the hospital was Janet Clarke.
The hospital committee visited the hospital before its July meeting and spoke highly of the splendid accommodation afforded in the institution, and that such existed in the district to yield relief to the sick and the suffering as in the case of James Whelan who recently died there.
They were pleased to find the place was beautifully clean and was gradually getting into working order. Since its opening six patients had been admitted, and there are at present three patients. In the last case admitted, that of a woman suffering from pneumonia, the benefit is shown of having such an institution. This complaint requires careful nursing even more than physic, and the sufferer's house, although comfortable, was subject to draughts.
She was advised to go to hospital, and entered as a paying patient, and has rapidly improved since her admission, whereas had she remained at home death was likely to ensue. For paying patients the scale of charges has been fixed from one pound to three pounds three shillings, exclusive of medical attention.
It was in July that Dr Evershed resigned as one of the a medical officers because he felt he could not give the time and attention necessary for the care of the patients, but he was always willing to assist in operations or an emergency. Now the onus for care of the patients had to be mostly met by Dr Marshall.
