New hospital ward opens

Press, 13 October 1987, Page 35

New hospital ward opens

St George’s Hospital celebrates the opening of its new Sir George Seymour ward this week. The 20-bed ward is being opened today, Tuesday, October 13, by the Governor-General, Sir Paul Reeves. The new ward is the second stage of the hospital’s extension programme and will be at the nucleus of its facilities, says the principal nurse, Mrs Patricia Moore.

Stage one of the extension programme comprises the X-ray department and operating theatres and recovery ward.

Each of the 20 rooms in the new ward have ensuite facilities, something which is common overseas but relatively new in New Zealand. The soft grey carpet on the floors of both rooms and corridors is far removed from traditional

linoleum hospital floors, and it helps to create a peaceful atmosphere, Mrs Moore says.

The salmon-coloured walls add to the effect All rooms have television sets suspended from the ceiling to allow patients to watch even if they are lying down. The remote control with voice box makes it easy to change channels and hear programmes. Videos which are shown twice every day are popular. These are changed every fortnight so that noone sees the same video twice, says Mrs Moore. Each room has been carefully angled to give enough room to swing beds in and out Similarly the ensuites have been designed to allow easy wheelchair access. The rooms are all spacious, with plenty of wardrobe and cupboard space.

All overlook the pleasant environs and one

room even has its own sundeck. A feature of the ward is the high ceiling of the foyer which has wooden panelling. The lighting and wood combine to give a natural effect An attractive area with planting and seats has been created in the foyer where patients and visitors can sit In the corridor leading to the ward, a clever use of wooden panelling disguises a storage area. Each ward at St George’s Hospital - has been named after the First Four Ships so it is appropriate that a model of the Sir George Seymour stands in the foyer of the new ward.

A patchwork quilt depicting the First Four Ships and settlers also hangs in the foyer. Made by the Canterbury Embroiderers’ Guild, it was purchased for the hospital by the “Friends of St George,” the group.

of volunteers who work for the hospital. The area where the old Sir George Seymour ward was housed will allow the maternity ward to be extended. The hospital is now licensed for 12 extra maternity beds with the closing of Wendover. Some of' the older rooms have already been upgraded in the existing part of the hospital. The ceiling has been lowered, the floor has been carpeted while the rooms have been redecorated in soft pastels. A new lift is to be installed soon. A rebuilding programme will be carried out over the next few years, Mrs Moore says.