| biography | In early spring of 1942 Miss Irene Anderson was recruited to administer a hospital unit at Hastings Park Internment Camp. She was a registered nurse with 5 years experience in supervisory and teaching positions in the BC Mental Health Services and met the requirements as outlined by the BC Securities Commission. She was expected to administer the hospital and keep records, to supervise patient care, supervise staff and train aides to supplement the professional nursing staff.
The hospital unit was located in the poultry section of the livestock buildings at the point farthest from the main gates. The facility provided services for Japanese internees who were receiving care in community facilities such as the "Oriental Hospital" operated by an order of Catholic Nursing Sisters in East Vancouver and in other care facilities. The basic equipment and supplies were in place and as soon as staff was hired, patients requiring medical attention were transferred from the community to Hastings Park.
There was provision for segregation of male and female patients and for young children, as well as segregation of patients suffering from tuberculosis. Internees were referred to the hospital from Sick Parade, a daily health service for residents of Hastings Park.
Acutely ill patients, those requiring special therapies or surgical treatment were transferred to Vancouver General Hospital returning for recuperative care. Pregnant women in residence went directly to Vancouver General Hospital for delivery and immediate post-partem care. They rarely came to the medical facility. Children suffering communicable diseases were cared for by family and isolated as much as possible in the main residential areas under the supervision of a public health nurse, Miss Tveena Hunter.
Professional staff were recruited by the BC Securities Commission and consisted of qualified medical doctors, supplemented by Japanese professionals under the direction of Dr. Cook (?). Nursing staff was made up of a public health component under Miss Tveena Hunter and the hospital unit staff of qualified registered nurses supplemented by Japanese RNs and Aides were trained to assist with patient care. Miss Anderson oversaw the care in the wards for patients with tuberculosis and the medical wards. Infants and young children were taken care of in a crib area adjacent to the nursing office. Mrs. M. Fieman was Head Nurse of the TB section and Miss E. Lipsey was Head Nurse of the Medical Units.
In spite of the physical limitations of the facility and the philosophy of "Internment" that pervaded the Hastings Park compound through the restrictions imposed by the BC Securities Commission, staff morale was good. It was a challenging and interesting experience. An example of restrictions that affected staff were that Japanese RNs were paid on the scale set for internees rather than RN salary. Likewise, Japanese doctors visited and ordered medication for their patients but prescriptions and treatments had to be approved by salaried medical staff.
Miss Anderson resigned from the BC Security Commission in September 1942 to enroll in a diploma programme at the School of Nursing at UBC.
A farewell banquet was arranged by the remaining staff to celebrate the closing of the hospital. With permission of the BCSC and the RCMP, it was held in East Vancouver (upstairs in a well known Chinese restaurant).
As staff was transferred away from the coast, many of them wrote letters and sent snapshots to describe their new homes. Most of these letters were acknowledged initially, but pressure of new responsibilities on both sides caused correspondence to lapse.
Biographical information courtesy of Irene I. ( nee Anderson) Smith. Edited by staff.
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