ADDITIONAL BEDS

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 71, 25 March 1938, Page 11

ADDITIONAL BEDS

QUESTION OF SITE

HOSPITAL'S DIFFICULTY

NO DECISION

Some difficulty is being experienced by the Wellington Hospital Board in deciding where the proposed temporary hospital accommodation is to be located. : At last night's meeting of the ■board the superintendent. Dr. A. R. Thome,.submitted a report summarising the merits and demerits, of the Wellington and the Hutt sites, and this was referred to the building committee for a full' report.

In its report, last night, the committee stated that it was fully seized with the necessity of providing temporary buildings for both patients and nurses, but was unable to come to a decision as to the most suitable site for these buildings. The chairman of the committee, Mr. A. H. Carman, said that at the last meeting of the board if was recommended that construction should be started on two temporary wards to relieve overcrowding. It was suggested at that meeting that they should be built at the Hutt, and the recommendation was referred back to the committee, which discussed it very fully and decided to ask Dr. Thorne to report. "Though the need for extra accommodation is urgent the fact that'the whole question of new buildings was in the Minister's hands made it awkward for the-committee to decide anything, said Mr. Carman. "We were not sure what would happen to the building plans." ' ; . ' ■ Mr. F. Castle described the clause as 'an extraordinary one. It threw the whole responsibility 'on the board. Mrs. A. McVicar: You are on the building committee, aren't you? Mr. R. Holland: Mr. Castle was, in agreement with this procedure when it was before.the committee. Mr. A. W. Croskery said he was not in favour of temporary buildings that might-cost from £5000 to £10,000, or more. /It would be a waste of public money. He wanted to see the board fight for an up-to-date hospital in Wellington. "Do not let us retreat from the position we have taken up," he said., "Do not be stampeded by ihe noisy minority against the proposal. Temporary buildings are not good; it is our job to get on with the job." Dr. T. L.! Parr, said that whatever they did in regard to a permanent building they would be faced with a shortage: of beds in the next three, years while they were getting on with the new building. In the meantime they had.to make provision for extra 'accommodation. Dr. Parr moved that Dr. Thome's report should be considered at once, but on the motion, of Mr. Croskery, seconded by Mr. Treadwell, it was decided to refer the report back to the committee for a comprehensive report and indication as to site. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT. Dr. Thome's report read as follows:— . . "It has been suggested that two temporary wards of 24 beds each be erected adjoining the old main entrance. The wards would function till the new -buildingsvwere complete --and" they would then be shifted to some other site probably as convalescent wards attached to Belmont, Central Park, or «other of the board's properties. An alternative was raised by Dr. Parr that possibly these wards could be erected ■at Lower Hutt on ' the hospital site.'This would .avoid the necessity -of transfer later and these wards would be available for emergency purposes when a hospital was erected in the Hutt. It was decided that a short report should be available at the board meeting setting out the pros and cons of the alternative. "The suggestion ior the two temporayy wards was made because of the following advantages:—(l) Close proximity to main corridor, operating theatre, and kitchen. (2) Electric light, sewerage, hot and. cold water, steam for sterilisers and heaters, and telephone service, already on the site. (3) As the wards were to have one type of patient and one sex only the service rooms, ward, pantries, lavatories, bathrooms,, etc., would, be kept at a minimum. (4) The wards would require a minimum of extra staff —nurses, porters, maids, cleaners, and others. (5) The proximity to the rest of the -hos- , pital would be of advantage regarding the visiting medical staffs. • (6) 'it would enable 48 patients to be treated in the sunny aspect of the hospital. "The advantages set out for a Hutt site for these wards are: (1) They would not have to be moved later and. therefore would save in labour. (2) They would be available as emergency wards apart from the main hospital when such is built at the Hutt. (3) They would offer a nucleus for treatment for some of the present cases in the Hutt. . "Against these are: (1) In the Hutt more elaborate wards would be required because of types of cases and different sexes. (2) Footpaths and roads would have to be constructed immediately. (3) Sewerage, light, and water would have'to be ..taken on to the site. (4) A kitchen, nurses' accommodation, and other accessory rooms would be required. (5) Extra cost of staffing. (6) Transport costs for laundry. (7) The fact that the hospital site has not finally been settled and delay will be occasioned by having to decide on the general layout of the hospital and nurses' home.

"A further proposal has been made that if the present fever hospital is to be taken for a convalescent home, the extensions could be placed there, instead of at the main entrance. This would mean no shifting of buildings later and would provide the same bed accommodation. There is room on the fever site and this alternative could be accepted, but it means: (1) Adjustment to the kitchen services at Fever. (2) The provision of more staff accommodation. (3) We would not be able to use the beds to the same extent. (4) It would not give us the opportunity of nursing 48 acute cases on the sunny aspect of the hospital."