Long Beach Veterans Administration Hospital, 1954

8 images. Long Beach Veterans Administration Hospital, 7 May 1954. Crowded conditions as shown in typical paraplegic ward 3-bed cubicle; Ted Anderson (of Paralyzed Veterans Association); Doctor E.V. Edwards (hospital manager); Jim Dwyer (hospital secretary); Betty Koland (nurse); Colonel W.R. MacBrien; Frances Peterson (nurse); Gerald Watson (patient).; Supplementary material reads: "Snow. Caption Material, L.B. Veterans Administration Hospital. For Sunday or Monday. 31/32: Crowded conditions, as shown in typical paraplegic ward 3-bed cubicle. 19/20: This is the underpinning of one of the 'temporary' buildings which will be replaced if appropriations measure passes. r. to l.: Ted Anderson of Paralyzed Veterans Association, Dr. E.V. Edwards, hospital manager, Jim Dwyer, PVA secretary. Note inadequate piling instead of proper foundations. Also condition of plumbing -- old iron pipes (the one at which men are pointing was dripping a steady stream). 11/12: Only direct exit from temporary building is a ramp like this. All ramps are too steep; also are wooden construction and narrow. Note how hard nurse is working to push man on gurney up the ramp. Wheel chair patients cannot make it up without help. Going down, wheel chairs occasionally run away with the patient. In a 42-bed paraplegic ward, there may be 20 men who are entirely unable to help themselves. In case of fire, results can be imagined. Patient on bed being pushed by nurse Betty Koland. Jim Dwyer in wheelchair being pushed by Col. W.R. MacBrien. 53/54: This is a 'storeroom' in a paraplegic ward. It should be an entrance hall. There are no other places in which to store spare gurneys, laundry baskets, and similar equipment. The 'storeroom' is in the middle of the ward, with patient cubicles on each side. Nurse Frances Petersen is trying to make the best of it. Patient at telephone is Gerald Watson. Patient coming through in wheel chair is Bob Wright. Show to W. Woolard as soon as dry".