NEW HOSPITAL OPENED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 37, 13 February 1943, Page 6

NEW HOSPITAL OPENED

FINEST IN N.Z.

MR. FRASER SPEAKS

RECORD OF PROGRESS

Another milestone in the history of Auckland was passed this afternoon, when the new Green Lane Hospital' was officially opened by the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser. There was a large crowd, including members of the Hospital Board and staff, representatives of contributing local authorities, and organisations connected with hospital work, and members of the medical profession. Selections were played by a military band before and after the ceremony. The new hospital is a handsome building of imposing design, and represents the .last word in Hospital construction. Provision has been made for 264 beds, and all necessary service and staff rooms. The structure is of six storeys, surmounted by a flat roof. An exterior feature is the wide cantilever verandah on each floor, and the internal feature is the number of small wards. The cost is estimated not to exceed £200,000, and the intention is, at a later stage, to build a similar unit of six storeys adjoining. "Nearly a century ago, in 1545, a few yards from the spot where we are to-day assembled, there was erected the first hospital to serve the people of Auckland," said the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, in declaring the hospital open. "It was a modest structure, but no one with imagination will fair to appreciate the need under those conditions for a public institution.

"Since tne erection of this first building there has been a record of steady and fairly consistent progress. It is a progress which, in the main, has kept pace with the rapid growth of population and with the increasing needs of the community. A Sacrifice of View There are not a few who suggest that the new hospital buildings which are being erected throughout; the Dominion to-day are to some extent unnecessary. This is a superficial view and will not bear serious examination. The plain fact is that advance in medical science, paradoxically enough, means a greater measure of hospitalisation. There are certain diseases which previously were fatal and which to-day take a small toll of human life, but the diminishing death rate in these instances is due to the fact that the patient can be rushed to hospital, and given modern treatment which improves considerably his chances of living. "Similarly advances in surgical procedure are such that where a few years ago a patient would be given up and little or no attempt made to treat his illness, to-day that patient is taken to hospital and, under the skilful care of the surgeon, an operation is performed which may eradicate altogether the cause of the trouble, or at least improve for many years the patient s chances of life. I mention these things in order to emphasise that it the best that medical science can offer is to be availed of, there must be co-operation with -the medical and nursing "professions in providing ' adequate beds and suitable accommodation for all those m the community requiring these services. "I have referred to the skill of the medical profession, and in this I include not only the skilful surgeon, whose work is sometimes so dramatic, but also the careful physician, the anaesthetist and the diagnostician, But great and valuable as these services are—and no one who has been connected with hospital life will depreciate them in any -way—their work would be of little value but for the splendid co-opera-tive service rendered by that fine band of women, the nursing profession.

Tribute to Nurses "Let me pay to them to-day a special tribute. Their work is onerous and difficult, sometimes monotonous, and always a dram on their nervous energy, but the devotion to dutv of these women is such that there is hardly a patient passing through our public; hospitals who is not loud in his praise of, and m expressions of gratitude towards, these noble women. I pay to them a special tribute to-day and emphasise the fact that but for their conscientious, zealous, painstaking service all our buildings and all the care of the physicians would be in vain. "But when I have said that we must have hospitals where modern surgical and medical procedure can work at its best, and while I would emphasise that every evidence goes to show there must be an increase rather than a diminution in the hospital facilities that are available for our people, I also wish to say that the Government is keenly alive to the importance of preventive medicine. , , After referring to diet and other matters, Mr. Fraser said that the growth of hospital treatment in Auckland had been rapid. At the beginning of the century the number of patients treated in the Auckland Hospital was 1626. . In. 1930 the number had risen to 10,312, and in 1939 this figure had increased still further to 13,848. All were inpatients. He was informed, however, that last year, largely owing to the pressure of men oi the Armed Services, the number of patients actually treated rose to 18,973. "The number of beds available for the treatment of patients has not been as consistently progressive, he said. "The war, of course, has thrown "a great additional burden on our hospitals. It has only been through the utilisation of other buildings as temporary hospitals that the need of providing hospital accommodation for the sick from our military camps and for men invalided from overseas has been met. The fact is, however, that while these makeshift arrangements are suitable in an emergency we cannot contemplate their continuance for any lengthy period. The shortage of beds in the Auckland hospital district, including sanatorium beds is, I am informed, still considerable. "I understand that the Auckland Hospital Board has in mind further extension?, including the erection of a chest hospital. Such an institution will undoubtedly be most valuable, and will fill a greatly felt want in this province. "The block which is being opened to-day is a beautiful structure, reflecting great" credit on the, Auckland Hospital Board and- those responsible for its conception and its completion. It comprises six floors and contains 264 beds. The planning is modern.in every respect. There is no ward larger than six beds. All the service arrangements are of the best type available, and, I understand, will stand comparison with any in the world."

FIRST STEP MADE

HOSPITAL ADVANCE

BIG DEVELOPMENT AHEAD

By the erection of the new hospital the Hospital Board had made the first major step in a progressive building policy, said the chairman of the board, Mr. Allan J. Moody, in emphasising the importance of the occasion. He expressed his appreciation that the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, was present, and said that he had readily consented to open the new block.

Mr. Moody added that the ceremony marked an important step in hospital development and advancement. It was a memorable day for the Auckland Hospital Board, and they would now confidently look forward to the building of the eastern wing, which would make the block complete. Mr. Moody pointed out that the Auckland Board had been faced with many problems, the greatest being the gross overcrowding of its main institution. Much had yet to be done in the long-range plan which the board was developing, embracing the extension of * the eastern wing, a chest hospital, extended nurses' quarters, the extension of the nurses' home, with facilities for training, a laundry to service all institutions, a central store, a children's hospital, a hospital on the North Shore, and a possible hospital extension at Papatoetoe, to serve adjacent industrial areas. Great Responsibilities

After mentioning that the board had a total staff of 2100 and an annual turnover of £1,750,000, Mr. Moody said that it would be appreciated that the board had great responsibilities. He repeated his promise and undertaking, given when the foundation stone was laid by the Governor-General, Sir Cyril Newall, that although the present building would be used for civilian patients, it would be ready, should it be necessary, for the use of New Zealand servicemen when they returned from overseas. It was no lipservice, but a sacred promise. Mr. Moody next referred to the erection of the building by the Fletcher Construction Co., Ltd. As a gesture to the board and to help in the war period, the firm had offered to erect the building without profit, and following that, other firms, Phillipps and Impey,, Ltd., VV. A. Chenery, Ltd., SheetmetaJs, Ltd., Floor Surfacers, Ltd., and the Vulcan Steel Construction Co., Ltd., had stated their willingness to do their part of the building on the same basis.. The action of these firms meant the saving of thousands to

the board. The architect, Mr. Ray Farrell, had done wonderful work, and they were also appreciative of the efforts of the officials of the Department of Health. Centennial Year Near Mr. Moody said the building marked a distinct change in the character of the institution by the establishment of a suburban hospital in the One Tree Hill district, and in conformity with the change the name had been altered from The Infirmary to The Green Lane Hospital. He recalled that in two years' time it Would be the centennial year of the Auckland Hospital. The foundation stone had been laid for the complete building, and with the Prime Minister's valuable assistance they would push on with the erection of the eastern wing. Mr. Fraser would be invited to perform the opening ceremony, to mark the completion of the fine building the board had in mind. The first building on the present site had been erected 53 years ago, the foundation stone being laid by the Earl of Onslow, then Governor of New Zealand. The cost of the present building was £175,000, and with furnishings and equipment, was likely to reach the £200,000 mark. Mr. Moody then asked the Rt. Rev. W. J. Simkin, Anglican Bishop of Auckland, to bless and dedicate the new building. In dedicating and blessing the building the bishop said:' "In the faith of Jesus Christ we dedicate and bless this hospital to the glory of the ever blessed Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, for the exercise therein of the ministry of healing, and for the relief of all who suffer." Bishop Simkin offered a prayer for all who served in the hospital. „ The singing of the National Anthem marked the close of the opening ceremony. Afternoon tea was served,.and the visitors inspected the building.