HOSPITAL BOARD AND HAGLEY PARK.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 16358, 30 September 1913, Page 11

HOSPITAL BOARD AND HAGLEY PARK.

TO THE EDITOR. gi r? _With all due respect to the opinions expressed by his Worship the Mayor and Mr George Harper regarding the Hospital Board's desire to acquire a further three or four acres of the park for hospital purposes, one would surmise from the statement of these gentlemen, when they use the word "filch," that the Hospital Board intended to deprive the citizens of the use of it altogether. Surely the sick and Buffering, and the nurses and attendants who minister to their needs, require some consideration as well as the different sports organisations in and around Ohristchurch. But evidently these gentlemen consider sport should have the preference. After all, would not the improving and beautifying of a ! further three or four acres be prefer- | able to growing rubbish, cocksfoot and some useless trees, while if so improved would afford some pleasure to those unI fortunate ones who require hospital

I treatment. [■ The Mayor seems surprised! that the , i (Board does not make its buildings 'higher (three or four storeys). If he would consider but a moment, he must know, that plenty of sunlight is essential for the welfare of patients, and to 'do as he suggests (with the limited i space between tho wards) would have 1 the effect of shutting out the sun from [the lower storeys a great part of the ! day. It is true the Nurses' Home has I four storeys, but being in the south it Idoes not overshadow the wards. i His Worship also strongly reeenta the idea of having the infectious diseases hospital within the Hospital grounds, „. 'for what reason I know not, unless it Abe the fear of spreading the infection. %#"ut let him consult any of the medical in Ohristchurch, and they will tell him that there is less fear of infection within the precincts of the Hospital than outside, for the simple reason that every precaution is taken, 'whereas at Bottle Lake it is almost impossible to prevent the patients coming in contact with their friends. Neither can the same supervision be exercised there as could be at the general hos- . pital. Again, .the comfort of patients and nurses has to be considered, and ,the experience of the last few years has shown that the suffering endured by them during the summer months from the bites of mosquitoes is terrible. Moreover, from a financial point of .view (and to some this is of vital importance) it must be patent to everyone that with all our appliances for heating, lighting, water supply, accommodation for nurses, etc., at the genoral hospital, It should be more economically end efficiently managed than an institution some five or six miles away. In Wellington the infectious diseases hospital is in close proximity to the general hospital, and thickly populated round about, yet we hear of no comi plaint. As a matter of fact, our own i isolation block for the admission of (diphtheria and other infectious diseases ' is about to be opened, yet I have heard | of no objection to its being in the Hospital grounds. Admittedly, as Mr i Harper states, wo have some thirteen acres, yet that gentleman must be aware that only the narrow strip on ; the terrace is fit for building purposes, the remainder being too low and damp and I challenge anyone to say we are neglecting that portion, as it costs us .some hundreds a year to keep it in order.' We are s€ill improving it, as j we shall any further portion should wo ,eucceed in acquiring it. Now, I do not want to fall out with these gentlemen or tho Domains Board, but I do say we want to look somewhat ahead, to the growth of the city and future hospital requirements. To think of shifting the Hospital to somo other Kite is out .of the question. Too much money has already been spent there, and no one can deny it is a lovely site. Now, in addition to a chronic ward, which I hope to see erected within tho next twelve or eighteen months, the time is not- far distant when wo shall seriously have to consider the erection of a look ward, so that should the Hospital Board decide, under the Public .Works Act, to acquire a further three or four acres of the remaining 4.!0 in the interest of the sick and suffering, I trust we shall have the hearty support of tho citizens of Christehurch, instead of being accused of filching away their rights. My very keen interest in the matter - mast be my apology for taking up so ! nrich of your valuable space.—l- am, "etc., FREDK. HORRELL.