DUNEDIN HOSPITAL

Evening Star, Issue 21720, 15 May 1934, Page 2

DUNEDIN HOSPITAL

NEW ADMINISTRATION BLOCK CONSTRUCTION TO COMMENCE AT ONCE Now that the Health Department has given its approval to the erection of the new administration block for the Dunedin Hospital, the contractor (Mr W. H. Naylor) will commence the work immediately. The existing block has how outlived its usefulness, and the new building will not only provide better facilities for the hospital staff and the general public alike, but will provide a considerable amount of work for tradesmen and others for many months to come.

Reinforced concrete is to bo used throughout the new structure, which will he partly faced with brick and partly with coloured cement, and which will conform to the proposed earthquake building regulations. Even the roof will bo constructed of concrete, and covered with a bituminous material, the type of which has not yet been definitely decided upon. Three floors and a basement arc shown in the plans of the new block, which will be built almost on to the King street frontage. In. the centre of the building, on the main floor, will be situated the main hall, at the end of which will be built the staircase, and on the left of which will be a lift. There will be a separate entrance for patients on tho extreme north of the building, where the casualty department and the waiting rooms (almost twice the size of the existing one) will be situated. Provision is made for the staff matron, the sub-matron, house surgeon, office, and for the staff, including medical and honorary medical officers.

On the first floor- there will he three wards, a records department, the house surgeon’s quarters, the metabolic room, and other essential ■ services, while the upper floor will comprise a complete unit for eye, ear, and throat cases. Here will be two large and four small wards, operating room, dark room, and other conveniences. When complete, the building will provide an additional twenty beds, and increased accommodation for the hospital staff.

In order to avoid causing inconvenience to the services of the hospital, the work will be carried out to a carefully devised plan. A start will he made with the erection of the new casualty department and the housing of the staff on the north side of the existing administrative block, and at a suitable time the old structures will be demolished. Messrs Mason and Wales are the architects for the work, the contract price for which is over £34,000.