PAEROA HOSPITAL

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 59, Issue 4278, 12 May 1950, Page 12

PAEROA HOSPITAL

POWER FOR HOT WATER 9 SUPPLY DIFFICULTY VALLEY BOARD’S DECISION No extra provision had been made for hot water supplies for patients and the various services of the Paeroa hospital and the board was anxious to install an auxiliary supply which had been authorised by the Department of Health, stated a letter from the Thames {Hospital Board to the May meeting of the Thames Valley Electric-Power Board held recently in Te Aroha. The board wished to install an electric hot water cylinder. The instalation of a steam or boiler supply was not suitable as the hospital was staffed by women. The hospital board realised the difficulty with regard to the supply of electricity but in an institution completely devoted to maternity work adequate supplies of hot water must, of necessity, be available. The favourable consideration of the request was sought. If granted it would mean a big drain upon the supply as it would use 21,000 units of electricity |per year, said Mr R. Sprague, manager of the board.

Mr Edwin Edwards supported the application as the hospital at Paeroa, he said, was serving the mothers of the counties of Hauraki Plains and Ohinemuri, He stressed the urgent need, the increasing number of patients and the inadequacy of the present supply of hot water at Paeroa hospital. He urged the granting of the application. Mr T. A. Barrett supported the request. He knew of no more urgent application. The manager, Mr R. Sprague, pointed out that other methods might be used. The boardfe engineer, pMTr G. P. Lindsay, drew attention of the members of the board to the fact that the position in Matamata hospital was exactly the same and he read to the meeting the regulations which had to be carried out. In opposing the application Mr W. A. Rushton stressed the point that power could not be supplied to Paeroa hospital and denied to Matamata hospital. He suggested that Mr Lindsay consult with the Thames Hdspital Board as to other methods of meeting the situation. The difficulty, he thought, could be overcome. M!r Edwards then supported Mr Rushton’s suggestion that the engineer instigate the position but he drew attention to the fact that though the duty was upon the hospital board to provide hot water there were certain difficulties which might make the installation of aternative methods not possible at the Paeroa institution. A resolution was accordingly carried that the matter be referred to the engineer for his full investigation.