OVERCROWDED

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 120, 23 May 1928, Page 10

OVERCROWDED

AUCKLAND HOSPITAL MORE ROOM WANTED AT ONCE (By Telegraph.) (Spocial to "The Evening Post.") AUCKLAND, This Day. There was a record number of patients in tho Auckland Hospital yesterday, tho total being (io'3. All the available beds arc occupied, and uso has been made of lounges in various wards, while tho accommodation in tho infectious diseases wards is taxed to capacity. There aro fifty people on the waitinglist. The Minister of Health (tho Hon. J. A. Young) yesterday informed a deputation, representing the Hospital Board, that when ho returned to Wellington ho would confer with the Direc-tor-General regarding a now infectious diseases building at tho hospital. Meni-^ bcrs pointed out to tho Minister the' serious position at the hospital owing to tho restricted accommodation available, and asked him to consider favourably the board's proposal to erect a new building. It was stated, that the original estimated cost of the building was £40,000, but since then the board's architects had gone into the. question with one of tho Health Department's experts, with the result that the cost could bo reduced by> from £3000 to £5000. The Minister said ho fully realised the necessity for some increased accommodation, and immediately on his return to Wellington he , would discuss tho whole matter with Dr. Valintine. Owing to tho financial stringency and many difficulties which at present are facing local bodies, the Auckland Hospital Board, at. a special meeting yesterday, decided not to give immediate consideration to tho erection of an administrative block at tho hospital, as recommended by tho medical superintendent in his annual report to the board.