Overcrowded

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7241, 22 August 1933, Page 8

Overcrowded

| oDMi-MIIM '«*«*•*■ Hospital is Taxed Beyond Capacity

ADDITIONAL WARDS A NECESSITY According to information placed before the Palmerston North Hospital Board yesterday, the public hospital is considerably overcrowded and further accommodation, especially for cases of a chronic nature, is urgently needed. The executive committee reported as follows on the matter: “The chairman explained the building proposals which had been suggested by the medical superintendent and managing-secre-tary after consultation with the officers of the Health Department. The committee had carefully considered the proposals and endorsed the suggested erection of a new administration block in permanent materials as against remodelling existing wooden buildings, provided that the necessary finance could be arranged at a small annual eost to the local bodies. -In this connection it was agreed the chairman be authorised to further interview the department with a view to ascertaining what amount the department would be prepared to agree to at the present time and to then prepare concrete proposals for consideration by the board.” The chairman reported that the department was against tho idea of trying to remodel the »present wooden building. The board was told that it should have regard to the future. The cost of a new building would be £6OOO which was a sum in excess of what the board had been prepared to provide. Mr. Homblow said ho was very much concerned with the accommodation at the hospital. The standard accommodation was for 126 beds, whereas at pro-, sent theTO were 176 patients in hospital, gome of theso cases were of a chronic nature and it was hoped that some of those could bo removed to the Old People’s Home to make room for the ordinary patients. Nevertheless, even then the hospital would be over-full and the board would not be able in the near future ,to face an expenditure of £IO,OOO in order to provide much-need-ed accommodation. All this would have to be taken into consideration when considernig the proposal for an administrative block for which all the money could not possibly bo found even this vear. The board, however, would only be facing half the capital cost of the construction, the Government finding tho other half. What the board had to consider was whether it would erect nu administrative block only or entail the extra expense of a ward for the chronic cases in addition. Answering Mr. Catley, the chairman said tho increase in the number of patients was due to a number of causes, including increased population and the depression. However, the average number of cases per head of population was fairly low. The secretary reported that the cost of the administrative block to the board, including interest and sinking fund, would be £225 per year for 20 years. The Government would be find-ing-another £225 for a similar period. The comprehensive schemo would involve something like £II,OOO. • Mr. Hansford thought it might be wise for the board to consider the big<>'er scheme at a late? date. From England it was reported:..,that firms were launching out ou large building operations and if that reflected the coming of' better times, it would not be lon before New Zealand was affected. A short wait would not be out of place as the chairman had already said nothing could be done for six months Mr. G. A. Monk said what the loca hodies were concerned with was the cost. He wanted to know that before any steps were taken, There undoubtedly would have to bo a capital levy. Hr. Honk said ho was impressed with what the chairman had said. The posi tion now seemed to be that wit veiy little added cost, the board could build i ward for the incurables at the hospi taHn conjunction with the admimstraU Hr. Homblow said he felt the Government might block the board. - Mr. Hansford: But they are building railway stations and post office ®- - Mr Honk: If we have the local bodies behind us, the department cannot very well refuse. -■ , : ..j The chairman: And we have continually putting o2 this work for many years. They know that, too. The board decided to await a report on tho cost of both schemes, to be taken out by the secretary. Hr. Phillipps pointed out that patents in the hospital were averaging - more than last year.