NUISANCE AT HOSPITAL

Press, Issue 29236, 21 June 1960, Page 8

NUISANCE AT HOSPITAL

Complaints About Sightseers

The concern of the North Canterbury Hospital Board about cars cruising round the Princess Margaret Hospital and nurses’ home and disturbing the occupants, was expressed yesterday by the secretary of the board (Mr J. G Laurenson) and the hospital matron (Mass J. Taylor). It appeared that cars taking a scenic drive of the hospital grounds were slowly driving past the buildings and were being particularly disturbing to the nurses, Mr Laurenson said. The nuisance was particularly bad at night. Apart from the noise factor of cars in low gear circling the nurses’ home which disturbed nurses’ resting at all times of the day and night, visitors peering into the nurses’ lounge through the large glass windows was embarrassing, Miss Taylor said. Week-end sightseers were particularly prevalent. It was disturbing for patients also to have so many visiting cars circulating the grounds. Miss Taylor said. There had been instances of cars drawing up and honking their horns to attract patients’ attention in the hospital.

“With so much trouble taken indoors to have maximum quiet by fitting acoustic tiles, it does seem a pity to have thoughtless sightseers disturbing patients and staff.” Miss Taylor said. “Unfortunately the reading system makes it ideal for vehicular sightsers," Mr Laurenson said. If the nuisance continued the board would nfced to put up notices prohibiting the flow of cars.