091322 140 year history - A4 landscape v1 digital - Flipbook - Page 9
No. 1. Vol . I.
It is customary, upon the inception of any journal, for the
editorial“we”to state the object with which it has been
conceived. In the case of the Prince Alfred Hospital Gazette
such a course may be specially desirable, for the reason that,
so far as Australia is concerned, the publication of an official
journal in connection with any Hospital is, we believe, unique.
The purpose of this Gazette is to bring the Hospital and its
supporters more closely into touch. It is an unfortunate fact
that, in the case of the great bulk of the subscribers to this
institution, as to most others of its kind, while there is a
generous impulse which prompts the giving of help to the needy
sick, the givers really know very little of what is going on in the
Hospital which they help to support.
Once a year they are asked for their usual donation, which
is generally given without a murmur, and once a year, also, they
receive a copy of the annual report. From this they gain some
idea of the general scope of the operations of the Hospital, and
some statistics. But after all reports are very unsatisfying. They
do not lift the veil of Hospital life, as it were, and enable their
readers to picture what is going on. It is to remedy this in part
that the Gazette is published. Few of those who help to maintain
great Hospitals really have any idea of what goes on within
them. As a matter of fact, the life within a Hospital is the life of
a world in itself, Take Prince Alfred Hospital for example. There
are 236 beds, which are generally filled, and there are thus say
236 patients, male and female, children and adults.
SYDNEY. SEPTEMBER 24, 1902.
In one ward there are women with all kinds of diseases,
some of them mortal, and others serious perhaps, but not
dangerous. In another ward are men, many of whom are about
to undergo some important operation. What a vista of thought
is opened up here alone. Earl one of these poor fellows, if he
be conscious, has a dread at least that he may not emerge
safely from the ordeal, while some know that their lives hang
upon a thread. In other wards, such as the ophthalmic or the
gynaecological, the patients are living in hope of a return to
perfect health from the course of treatment and looking
forward to a bright and happy future.
Yet alongside of these may be a ward in which some of
the occupants are on the borderland of the unknown, and feel
perhaps – that they may never leave the Hospital alive. What a
world of sentiment and feeling is thus disclosed. Yet this is only
one side of Hospital life. To attend upon these poor creatures is
a company of some seventy nurses,—good women, who for the
most part enter the profession out of pure love of the work and
its associations, and a desire to be of service to their fellows.
These again have a life of their own. Their work is hard and
continuous, but full of interest, and they live happily together,
forming associations and friendships, which mould their after
lives, while they are subject to a discipline which cannot but
be beneficial. Then there is the medical staff. Amongst these
are men of the highest attainments in all branches of medicine
and surgery, who spend many hours unselfishly attending to
P ublished G r atis .
the cases committed to their care with as close attention as
would be devoted by them to patients who pay the highest fees.
Assisting them again are a number of young resident doctors
who have just passed through their University course, at the top
of the tree, and who find themselves suddenly saddled with the
grave responsibility of much human life. Who can fail to grasp
the potentialities before these leaders of their craft here in the
making? Beside all these are the medial students, the officers,
attendants and employees of all kinds necessary to the carrying
out of the detail and non-medical work of a great institution, ward attendants, pathological attendants, porters, laundresses,
cooks, maids, - and the tradesmen, such as engineers,
carpenters, etc., not to speak of the clerical staff, needed to
perform the internal duties. Again there are the noble workers
and visitors, who give their services gratuitously to the Hospital;
and yet again the friends of the patients who visit them in their
sickness. Place all these elements together, and some idea can
be gathered of the diverse and unique experiences which go to
make up the composite life and world of a great Hospital. It is
our purpose, then, to write of these things from time to time,
and to endeavour to make our readers, the general public, in
some measure acquainted with what goes on in the Hospital.
Thus we hope to extend its army of supporters, and increase the
circle of sympathisers who, knowing what is being done, may in
turn use their knowledge and influence with others and so aid
in the good and charitable work of caring for the sick poor.
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