NEW SURGICAL WARD

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29162, 24 March 1960, Page 15

NEW SURGICAL WARD

30 Beds At New Hospital The first ward for surgical patients will be open at the Princess Margaret Hospital by next Tuesday. The new ward, which will hold 30 patients, is made up of units with four beds, two beds and one bed, and will be used for patients of both sexes. The ward would provide better conditions for patients and would have the great advantage of a solarium for patients to enjoy the sunshine (vhile convalescing, the Medical Superintendent in Chief to the North Canterbury Hospital Board (Dr. T. Morton) said yesterday. The opening of the ward would also relieve the list of persons waiting for surgery, he said. Apart from one or two patients who will be ■ transferred from Christchurch Hospital, the patients admitted will all be new ones. Acute cases which have up to now been admitted to the Christchurch Hospital a set day each week will henceforth go to the Princess Margaret Hospital. The ward will be staffed by a senior surgeon and his assistant from the Christchurch Hospital with a surgical team and nurses from there. Available Nurses The opening of the surgical ward had been conditional upon there being the number of registered nurses available, said Mrs J. E. Mackay at yesterday’s meeting of the board. The early transfer of a thoracic surgical ward to the Princess Margaret Hospital had also been considered, and a recommendation would be made in due course. A committee report before the board said that the transfer of the Burwood Hospital surgical ward to Princess Margaret Hospital had been discussed. Now that the nursing staff position had improved, and arrangements had been made for surgical teams to devote their time to both Burwood and Princess Margaret Hospitals, it was felt that surgery should be continued at Burwood Hospital. This recommendation was adopted.