BUILDING PLANS AT HOSPITAL: TOP PRIORITIES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23314, 25 July 1950, Page 4

BUILDING PLANS AT HOSPITAL: TOP PRIORITIES

Proposals for the establishment of a new ward for chronic cases near the Memorial Home and of a new maternity home to replace the three separate maternity institutions now operated were advanced tentatively by Mr. H. H. Barker at yesterday’s meeting of the Cook Hospital Board, in a discussion on the provision of, additional beds for patients and nurses.

The chairman, Mr. J. B. Williams, had quoted a report from the supervising matron, Miss J. I. Martin, indicating the need for approximately 26 additional members of the nursing staff, in order to improve conditions and restore the balance of patients and nurses in the Cook Hospital. Top Priority Rating Suggested

Mr. Williams had further suggested that the board give the question of additional nurses’ accommodation equal priority, with the most urgent building works contemplated by the board. Mr. Barker stated that the present system of conducting maternity services was uneconomic. If the Board could pull the cost per maternity bed down to the same figure as for general hospital beds the board could save £BOOO per annum, which sum would service a loan of £IOO,OOO. Included in his suggestions was the removal of all chronic cases to a new ward, where they could get the attention they needed without unnecessary nursing and medical attention; and that maternity services be concentrated in one institution, which would provide accommodation for its own stafn These measures would not only relieve the Cook Hospital nursing staff of attendance on one group of patients, but also would leave a substantial number of additional beds available for patients and nurses at the Cook Hospital,

Survey of Building Needs

Members of the board agreed that the proposals put forward by Mr. Barker were worthy of study, but it was pointed out that a survey of probable building development in connection with the hospital was being undertaken in conjunction with the Health Department, and that this survey probably would cover those and alternative proposals. The chairman acknowledged the value of Mr. Barker’s tentative proposals, but stressed that the object in the meantinme was to secure recognition by the Health Department of the urgency of nurses’ accommodation as an issue at the Cook Hospital, comparable with the new theatre block and the new kitchen to which the department had accorded top priority. On the motion of Mr. A. M. Trafford, the board took the course recommended by the chairman.