NEW HOSPITAL BLOCK

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23744, 16 September 1942, Page 4

NEW HOSPITAL BLOCK

ERECTION AT WAIMATE COST ESTIMATED AT £25,000 The erection of a new hospital block at Waimate, at an estimated cost of £25,000 was approved at a meeting of the South Canterbury Hospital Board yesterday, and the work will be started as soon as possible. The new block will provide accommodation for 48 patients. Approval of the erection of porters’ quarters, laundry, and storeroom at an estimated cost of £3500, was also given. Work on a new septic tank drainage system at the hospital will be started immediately. The report of the findings of a special committee set up to inquire into hospital requirements at Waimate, was presented to the board. In the report, it was emphasised by representatives of the Waimate Hospital Committee that many difficulties were created by the inadequate accommodation and lack of facilities at Waimate Hospital. It was claimed to be unreasonable that young nurses should be expected at all hours of the night to leave the main hospital building to attend patients in the hutments some of which are a good distance away. In wet weather, the position from a nursing point of view was worse, and meals for the patients had to be taken through the rain. The hutment'- themselves were not weather-proof and it was not fair to patients that they should be required to put up with such makeshift accommodation. A suggestion was made that the plan originally submitted by the architect should be modified by deferring until a more opportune time that part of the building containing administration offices, and erecting that part of it containing accommodation for 48 patients. Speaking of the proposals regarding Waimate Hospital, Mr J. C. Hay said he wished to protest against the attitude adopted by the Timaru Borough Council. “The attitude of the council is decidedly out of place,” said Mr Hay. He produced a statement showing that during the period from 1932 to 1942, the average annual expenditure on the Timarfi Hospital had been £12,820, as compared with £1052 a

year on the Waimate Hospital, During the 10-year period, £IIO,OOO had been raised on loan for Timaru Hospital, while no funds had been raised for Waimate. Mr C. B. Marshall said that Waimate was entitled to adequate hospital accommodation. The secretary (Mr ' ‘ G. Naylor) said that, in addition to expenditure on building, a further £2OOO would be required for furnishings. "I think we should stress the fact that half the cost of the proposed buildings will be borne by the Government.” said the chairman (Mr E. Macdonald. After further discussion the report of the special committee and their recommendations as to the needs of the Waimate Hospital were approved.