HOSPITAL AT HUTT

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 115, 18 May 1938, Page 15

HOSPITAL AT HUTT

DIRECTION TO ARCHITECT SUBURBAN SERVICES An estimate of £189,808 for a 100bed reinforced concrete hospital in the Hutt Valley capable of expansion to provide 200 beds, was given to the Hospital Commission yesterday afternoon by Mr. V. P. Haughton, architect to the Wellington Hospital Board. Mr. Haughton was directed to furnish an estimate for a hospital of similar capacity in wood to provide the services of a:subsidiary, suburban hospital. Including a maternity unit. The personnel of the Commission is as follows:—Mr. H. A. Young, of Christchurch, principal Stipendiary Magistrate, chairman: Mr. D. S. .Wylie, C.M.G„ C.8.E., of Palmerston North, medical practitioner; Dr. H. Hard-wick-Smith; of Wellington, medical practitioner. Mr; A. E. Currie is appearing for the Crown, Mr. J. O'Shea (City Solicitor) for the Wellington City Council, and other contributory bodies, and Mr.G. R. Powles for the Wellington Hospital Board. ALTERNATIVE PROPOSALS. Mr. Haughton said that an alternative possibility to the erection of the suggested hospital for the Hutt Valley was the erection of two bed blocks on the Newtown site. One would provide 135 beds at an estimated cost of £108,765. Another suggestion was to build at the same time a community wing giving 100 beds. The estimated cost of the latter block, £71,000, was not included in the estimate of £750,000 for the full scheme. The 135-bed block wouldv probably take at least 18 months to complete from the time of calling, tenders, and it would not take much longer to complete both blocks. Judging from the experience of building the Southland and Hawera hospitals it would take less time to erect the two suggested blocks than to erect a 100-bed hospital in the Hutt Valley. It was not suggested that work on the other extensions at Newtown should be held up indefinitely, but that it should proceed when . the two blocks, were completed. • - The chairman intimated that the estimate for a wooden hospital should taka into account that cases requiring special treatment would be sent to the base hospital. Mr, Haughton and Dr. R. A; Shore, Director of the Division of Hospitals, both gave evidence regarding suitable sites in the Hutt Valley. Dr. Shore said he thought that a single storey hospital based on wood, with a limitation on the number of patients that could be accommodated, would be reasonably satisfactory. Mr. J. Glover, chairman of . the Wellington Hospital Board, recalled by Mr. O'Shea, said he had been correctly reported by the "Evening Post" of December 15, 1937, as having said that several thousands of pounds would be required out of the maintenance fund for the balance of the furnishings and equipment not provided for in the. estimate of £750,000 for the proposed hospital extensions. The board had been building up its funds for several years to meet the extra amount: .., ..:■■ ,