TOO LARGE?

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 277, 22 November 1934, Page 8

TOO LARGE?

PUBLIC HOSPITAL.

DECISION NEEDED.

MORE ACCOMMODATION WANTED. NORTH SHORE PROPOSAL, "Wo aro nearing the breaking point,' was the comment of Mr. W. Wallace, chairman of the Auckland Hospital Board, when discussing this morning what he described as the "urgent and crying need" for Additional accommodation at the general hospital. "It :<■ fortunate that there have been so few \ infectious cases during the last three ; years," he said. "This has given the ; board some measure of relief, in that wo iiave been able to use the isolation block for general hospital purposes during the last eighteen months." Mr. Wallaco said that more zoom was needed, particularly in the special dc- , partitiontd, including the casualty ward. X-ray department, and ear, nose and throat department. The ward accommodation was taxed to its utmost. "The board is fully aware of the position," continued Mr. Wallace. "When in Wellington recently 1 took the opportunity of interviewing the DirectorGeneral of Hospitals, Dr. Walt, in respect to the question of accommodation generally. He appreciated the position anil our difficulties, and realises that more accommodation is a necessity, but he is unable to come to Auckland at the present tijne to discuss the question with the board. He has promised, however, to come here early in the new year and go fully into the problem. the meantime the. board will make a thorough examination into the position with a view to formulating a policy for the future." Site at Northcote. Referring to a suggestion made at a meeting of the Birkenhead Borough Council last night that the time is opportune review the agitation for a hospital 011 the North Shore, Mr. Wallace mentioned that the board had a large area of land at the further end of Northcote, which would be eminently suitable for a subsidiary hospital. Such | an institution, lie said, would serve the marine suburbs and the whole of the northern district to the board's boundary at Wellsford. In such a hospital accident cases could be dealt with, and delays in bringing urgent cases across to Auckland would bo eliminated. "Even at the risk of increasing administrative costs something will have to be done soon in the interests of the public to givo better hospital service,'' Mr. Wallace added. "At the Auckland Hospital there were approximately 750 beds. There were many patients at the infirmary, and additional beds were needed there for the accommodation of long-standing cases—cases unsuitable for ordinary hospital treatment.

Careful Thought Needed. "Wo are over-taxed at tlie Auckland Hospital," said Dr. E. B. Gunson, a member of the board. "Whether additional accommodation should be provided at the hospital itself is debatable. When tho board considers the question the members will need to give every phase of the problem careful thought before coming to a <;• r-;■-in. There are many aspects, including tho detachment of certain interests. We have come to a stage when it is urgent that some delinite step should be taken."

Dr. Gunson mentioned the necessity for the establishment of a chronic chest hospital, and said it might even be found necessary to remove the children's hospital from its present site. lie thought that the general feeling was that it would he undesirable to increase tlio accommodation at the general hospital. The board had adopted a policy some tige ago to the effect that extensions when necessary should be in certain directions. The establishment of recovery homes had been discussed three or fours years ago. It was felt that by such a policy many of the patients would be "unloaded" from the general hospital.

In regard to the proposal for a hospital at North Shore, Dr. Gunson said the most that could be done, if it w"ere considered desirable to have an institution there, would be to establish a subsidiary hospital. The time had arrived, Dr. Gunson concluded, when the board would have to consider the question of extending along the lines laid down some years ago when a formal and tentatve policy was adopted, but was not carried out owing to financial considerations arising from the depression. "We are forced now to do something, despite the financial stringency." Chest Hospital Proposal. "The position at the Auckland Hospital has reached a stage when it is necessary to remove some of the departments from the hospital grounds," said Jlr. E. H. Potter, who has been a member of the board for many years. "The board's policy is to establish a separate chest hospital. This will relieve the pressure considerably. Further extensions at the present site will have to be carefully considered before any decision is reached to extend the building programme at the hospital. The. chest hospital should be 011 an elevated site, but not too far away from the base hospital. The board "has. already decided to increase the accommodation at the infirmary. The plans have been approved by the Hospital Department, and we are now awaiting the sanction of the Loans Board for the raising of the necessary money." In reference to the Xorth Shore proposal, 3lr. Potter said ho was in favour of the establishment of a small hospital [ there. It should be staffed with nurses and used by the private practitioners of the district without cost to the board. "The northern boroughs have a population of approximately 25,000," said ilr. Potter, "and in the near future that will grow to 30,000 or 40.000. Every encouragement should be given to the family doctor, and a hospital across the water would be some help. There should be provision in such an institution for dealing with accident cases." Public Hospital's Staff. Mr. Potter said there was at the general hospital a staff of resident officers, masseurs, nurses and gardeners numbering 580. In addition there were 54 visiting doctors, bringing the staff up to 043. "That "is a big staff." he said. "The institution is up to capacity as far as patients are concerned, and there is a long waiting list. The whole pro' blem of accommodation will certainly have to be considered in the near