WELLINGTON HOSPITAL

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 132, 2 December 1930, Page 16

WELLINGTON HOSPITAL

PJJOGUIOSS IN THIRTY YEARS

In the course of his address at tho opening of the now Ewart Tuberculosis Hospital yesterday .afternoon, the chairman of the Wellington Hospital Board, Mr. I. Castle, said that the increased accommodation provided would mean an additio.i to the animal cost for both capital and maintenance. More nurses and other members of the staff would bo necessary to provide proper attention for tho larger number of patients. The cost oJf tho temporary Ewart Hospital for the year 1929 was £50SU —tho daily average of patients being -1-1.2. The average stay of patients in this hospital was very long— 3b'(i.7 days—and thu average cost of an occupied bed was £115. Estimating that the net average cost per occupied bed would bo £100, the additional, amount required for SO beds would be between £3000 and £4000. As a small tribute to the valuablo work which Air. C. AI. Luke had done in connection with the hospital for nearly half a century, the board desired that he should.perform the ceremony of declaring the new hospital open. Mr. C. M. Luke, in declaring the hospital open, said he was the solo surviving member of the board which held office when he first joined. One of the best friendships he had made during his public life had been that of Dr. John Ewart, who had been for 21 years medical superintendent of the Wellington Hospital, and who was present with them that afternoon. He described in appreciative terms Dr. Ewart's splendid work as medical superintendent, and alluded to the progress of the institution during. Dr. Ewart's term of office. Of all community service, there was none loftier than that rendered by a<ihoapital and its officers, both lay and medical. Speaking of his own experience, Mr. Luke said that no public service had given him greater satisfaction than his association with hospital work. Dr. John Ewart said it was just over JO years ago that he was appointed medical superintendent of tho Wellington Hospital,, which was :i very small institution at that time.. .When he took office there were only about SO patients, when he left, after 21 years' service, there were- about 300, and now there were nearly double that number. Amongst those present at the ceremony were the members and officers of the Hospital Board, Dr. 11. B. Ewen (medical superintendent), Dr. 11. Short (tuberculosis physician), Mrs. Short, Mrs. F. Castle, Mrs. W. H. Cunningham, Miss Ewart (sister,of Dr. Ewart), Miss Ewart (daughter), and Mr. Mair (Government architect). Afternoon tea was provided for the visitors.