THE HOSPITAL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 289, 10 November 1925, Page 7

THE HOSPITAL.

QUESTION OF ACCOMMODATION

KAIRANGA COUNCIL FAVOURS BUILDING SCHEME.

The scheme for the erection of’additional accommodation at the Palmerston North Hospital at a cost of £50,000 was considered at to-day’s meeting of the Kairanga County Council when a circular letter was received from the managing-secretary which disclosed that, under the existing conditions, the standard accommodation was as under:—Men, surgical: Prince of Wales wal’d, 24; MeHardy ward, 4; medical, ward ]V., 17, Wilslier ward 4; total 40. Women, surgical: Princess Mary ward, 24; medical, Royal Alexander ward, 16; total 40. Children: Main ward, 17; ward 11., 6; total 23. The totiil general accommodation ’ apart from the consumptive annexe and infectious diseases block is 112, but the number in the wards, it was stated, had frequently exceeded 140 and to accommodate these extra patients beds had been placed permanently, on the ward verandahs and extra beds in the wards themselves.

A table on a population basis revealed that Palmerston North, with a district population of 52,000, possessed 112 hospital t>eds, whereas Hawke’s Bay, with a population of 40,000, had 186 beds and Wanganui, with a population of 51,000, had 155 beds. On a basis of number of beds per 1000 population,. Palmerston North had an average of 2.1 as against 4.6 and 3.0 of the Hawke’s Bay and Wanganui institutions respectively. The Dominion average was 3.2 and it would require 166 general beds to bring the Palmerston North Hospital up to such uverage. If two wards were erected within the next year they would accommodate 40 paients and would be only 10 beds in excess of the actual requirements at the present time. Relative to other additions which were considered essential, it was mentioned that there were about 100 operations performed per month and it was with the greatest difficulty that the work was carried out in one theatre. It was proposed that a new theatro be erected and to use the present theatre for minor work and outpatients. The nurses’ home had 40 bedrooms and 12 nurses were at present accommodated in a wooden building in another part of the grounds. With an additional two wards, accommodation would be required for 78 nurses and two masseuses, and it would thus be necessary to add considerably to the present nurses’ home. Additional wards as male staff quarters and a bulk store were also included in the scheme, the total cost of the build-

ings being estimated at approximately £45,000.

An accompanying letter from the chairman (Sir James Wilson) explained that it was proposed that each year a levy be made for capital expenditure of £2500 which, with the subsidy of £2500 from the Government, would nay the loan off in ten years, while interest would be taken out of maintenance.

Cr. Small said that, although tho additional accommodation at the hospital would naturally increase the burden of the ratepayers, he was going to-support tho budding scheme, for he did not hesitate to say that the local institution ranked among the highest in the Dominion. The institution was becoming so huge that it was evident the day was fast coming when the council would have to strike a special hospital rate. Further, it was indeed a pity that the State did not pay an oven larger subsidy in this direction. Ors. Moo&y and Oollis also supported the scheme and the method of raising a short period loan. Cr. Collis also said that the Palmerston North Hospital was one of the most efficient and economically run in the Dominion, while Cr. Anderson, in speaking in similar strain, said he had had personal experience of its advantages. Without further discussion, tho scheme as contained in the managingsecretary’* report was agreed to.