PLANS OUTLINED

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 116, 12 November 1938, Page 10

PLANS OUTLINED

PROBLEM FOR BOARD

INCREASING OVERCROWDING

Proposals for the alleviating of the ever-increasing congestion at the Wellington Hospital were outlined by the superintendent, Dr. A.' R. Thorne, to the "Evening Post" to^ay.

"The demand for treatment at the Wellington Hospital has shown a steady increase over the last few years," he said. "The v daily average for October over the last six years has been 561, 575, 645, 718, 724, and 829 for the October just past. The peak period was reached in August and September this year when our daily average of in-patients was 850 and 847 respectively. The demand for beds has increased by practically 300 daily in the last six years, so that this will give some idea of the magnitude of the bed problem which is confronting the board.

"With the increase in patients there is naturally an increase required in the staff, and the nursing staff has increased from 205 in 1933 to 373 in the present year, and even then the hospital is definitely under-staffed," said Dr. Thorne.

"The nurses' home was overcrowded in 1933 and attempts have been

made to alleviate the additional overcrowding by putting the staff in various parts of the buildings and by leasing premises outside. Thirty-five of the senior nursing staff are given a living-out allowance to further help with the housing problem. PLANS BUT NO BUILDINGS. "Four years ago a start was made on the question of additional accommodation for patients and nurses. The matter has been under consideration ever since and many plans have been drawn, but so far, no permanent buildings have been added. Application is being made to the Loans Board at its next meeting for permission to borrow money for certain urgent works which will give relief to some sections of the hospital. "It is proposed," said Dr. Thorne, "to build a 50-bed female surgical ward of light construction adjacent to the theatre block connected with the children's hospital. This is an excellent site and its close proximity to the theatres will save long trips by patients having to undergo operation. To make full use of the theatre block certain additions and alterations have been recommended and if these are carried out it will provide two theatres in full working order. "Plans for a new and adequate boiler house have been completed and tenders are being called at the present time for this work. It is anticipated that a commencement will be made with the new boiler house before the end of February. "Plans and specification should be available in time to permit the starting of the new nurses' home block before June, 1939. Plans were prepared but owing to a recommendation by the Royal Commission that the site be altered the plans have had to be redrawn from the beginning. FLOOR SPACE IN LAUNDRY. "The laundry is another section of the hospital which is grossly overcrowded," Dr. Thorne continued. "To allow for extra floor space here and proper re-organisation, it has been found necessary to erect a new* stores block. This block will be adjacent to the present stores site and the floor/ above will be used for dining purposes for the nursing staff, the medical staff, and lay staff, until such time as the new main block is erected. The second storey above this will be devoted . to staff quarters'and 22 bedrooms will be provided, together with sitting-room and other facilities. "The preliminary training school, which up till now has been housed in an old building on the site to be occupied by the new surgical ward, will be transferred for the time being to the old dental buildings in Hospital Road. OTHER INSTITUTIONS. "The board is endeavouring to bring its various hospitals and institutions up-to-date and it has been found neces- ( sary to make alterations and additions to each institution. The McCarthy Home at Belmont was recently reconditioned and is now carrying a full complement of convalescents from the hospital, admission being limited to women and children. "At Central Park Hospital better accommodation is to be provided for the matron and this will allow proper housing of the nursing staff. "At the Infectious Diseases Hospital, to minimise cross-infection it will be necessary to build a further sanitary tower. "At Ewart Hospital, as in all other sections of the institution, overcrowding has existed for years and this has thrown an undue strain on both equipment and staff. As there seems to be no diminution in the demand for accommodation, the board is effecting certain improvements to this hospital. It is obvious, however, that sooner "or later, the question of more and improved accommodation for tuberculous patients must be considered, not only by this board, but by the group of boards using the existing sanatoria at Pukeora and Otaki. "Each month or so new equipment is being added to the main hospital, recent examples being the 'iron lung' which is used in cases of respiratory j paralysis, hydro-extractors in the laundry, and a mixer and a bread and i butter machine in the kitchen."