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THE DECREE
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 12. 1965
Hospital Plans In Progress
Editorial Feature—Robert Kirkman
In light of the fact that a sizable number cf Wesleyan
students each year must use the local hospital facilities
both the quality and quantity of these services are of
concern not only to the residents of Edgecombe and Nash
county but also to every member of the Wesleyan student
body. Numerous complaints have been voiced on the
college campus about both the lack of hospital space now
available and about the lack of modern facilities in what
space there is.
In order to investigate this matter the Decree con
tacted Dr. Kenneth D. Weeks, the college physician, and
Kemp Battle, a prominent North Carolina attorney, both
of whom are members of the Rocky Mount community
and are well acquainted with the present problems.
Both Dr. Weeks and Mr. Battle made the statement
that the hospital picture at the present time is not good.
Dr. Weeks stated that the present facilities are inadequate
in number. He added that he had no apologies for hospital
care in Rocky Mount and that these facilities have served
the community well. The problem lies in the fact that the
growth of the community has outstepped growth in hos
pital care.
Park View and the Sanitarium were built in 1913 and
1917 and as such are showing their age.
From Mr. Battle we gained the following statistics as
to the shortage of hospital beds. There are 115,000 people
in Nash and Edgecombe counties. The U. S. Public Health
Service in the past has recommended that 4 and Vz beds
be available for every 1,000 people. There are 250 beds
at present in Rocky Mount and 80 beds in Tarboro. If one
takes out his pencil he will find that his total is 80 beds
short of the recommended number. To make matters
worse this recommendation is in the process of being
lowered to 3 and % beds for 1,000 people which would
make the shortage even worse. As an example of the
problem there is only one hospital room in Rocky Mount
with a private bath.
The problem unfortunately does not stop at this point.
Bates Manufacturing Company will add approximately
2,000 people to the population here. Wesleyan is every
year expanding. With the coming of Medicare, experts
predict that the need for hospital facilities will be greatly
increased.
But there is a solution to the present dilemma. A com
mittee of five members appointed by the county commis
sion has been studying the problem. Dr. Weeks, inciden
tally, is a member of the committee.
Left: The exterior of the
Sanitarium presents an in
dication of what lies inside.
(Photo by Boothe)
Right: The rerouting of U.S.
301 through Rocky Mount
directly past Park View
makes the hospital’s location
undesirable.
(Photo by Boothe)
II
ipw
I
Left: Lack of recreational
facilities at Park View make
it necessary for children to
amuse themselves in the
halls.
(Photo by Boothe)
Left: Need We Say
Anything?
(Photo by Boothe)
Right: When a hospital has
little more size than a near
by business, it surely can
not be considered adequate.
(Photo by Boothe)
This group has come up with some concrete sugges
tions. First, Memorial and the Sanitarium are not going to
enlarge. Their physical plant is not capable of such pro
cedures. Park ‘View rtiay add a small number of beds.
However, any enlargement of Park View must be con
sidered as a stop-gap measure. The only real solution
seems to lie in the construction of new facilities. Edge
combe county has recently approved a $600,000 addition
for the Tarboro facility. Now the hospital study commis
sion has made the recommendation that a 350 bed hos
pital be built in Nash county in the close vicinity of Rockv
Mount. Mr. Battle stated that with the construction of
new facilities the need of the area would be satisfied for
the next twenty years. In addition these new facilities
would attract badly needed specialists not at present in
the community. Furthermore, the one obstacle that has
been in the way of the plan has been removed. It has
been previously stated that the county would not build a
hospital if it had to compete with Park View. Now an
agreement has been reached whereby Park View will
close with the opening of the proposed building. In addi
tion the Duke Foundation will give $115,000 to the conntv
to pay the debt on Park View and the property will be
turned over to the county.
There is one final block against the proposal. A 5 and
% million dollar bond issue must be approved by the
citizens of the area in order to supply funds. It is expected
that this propcsal will be voted on sometime in the soring.
Nash county has an extremely low bonded debt of $40,000
at the present time. When this issue copies before the
voters it can only be hoped that the public will approve
the program. It is so obvious that a tremendous need exists
that it would be hcped that the voters cast their ballots
wisely.