Authorities “Barged In,” Says Hospital Chairman

Northern Advocate, 24 August 1943, Page 3

Authorities “Barged In,” Says Hospital Chairman

!£>peClcill nuun.Jjni’iu, XJIID J-'jy• t “We will do our best tor the forces, but ' the ratepayers should not be burdened to : j satisfy the whims ol political heads or of 1 1 some officials whom we cannot identify.‘is declared the hosDital board chairman (Mr. f Allan J. Moody) at a meeting of the boardi last night, when strongly criticising then Government’s action in taking 32 acres at h Middle-more and proceeding to construct a1 1 300-bed military hospital which the boardg might have to equip at a cost of £50,000;’ and which it certainb' would have tch conduct and finance, and the purchasing £ committee submitted a report showing!!: that the Government proposed to include jt in the building scheme four operating ,i theatres, X-ray, ohvsio-therapv and cccu-jj paticnal therapy departments, a nurses’! home and training school, five staff resi-js dences and male and domestic staff < quarters. t Board Not Consulted li “J have conterved with representatives 1 of the Health and Works Departments,” I said Mr. Moody, “and I am convinced that the board must make some protest) against the whole proceeding. The Gov- s eminent is going ahead with construction 1 cf an institution for 300 patients, requiring js 212 nurses and provided with all thejl services ot a complete hospital. It did not Is consult the board beforehand and isp violating all the princioles of hospital! design in spreading buildings out over an wide area. The board has always done it its best ior soldiers and civilians, but ji authorities, I do not know just who, isb : responsible, have barged in on their own; account and now they are meeting with | serious obstacles. The hospital was to be;. 1 : lushed ud by the. end of September, but i it wiil not be ready by that time. This;] may be an attemnt by the department to ( 'take control of the buildings of hospital ] I boards. If it is, it will be the worst it •thing possible for the Dominion.” : The* board adopted the committee’sji ;recommendations that the Works Depart-; iment be advised that consultations with | I members of the board’s staff in regard top planning of the hospital must be through ji • the board’s architect and that the Director- i< General for Health be informed that the i |boanj is not prepared at this stage to 1 express an opinion on the plans submitted. •