STEADY PROGRESS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 21 January 1926, Page 5

STEADY PROGRESS

NELSON DISTRICT’S NEW HOSPITAL STRUCTURE NEARLY COM PLETED equipment for fighting DISEASE Nelson's new hnspilal now presents a striking appearance. Ihe plain bill picturesque external features are pleas mg to the eye. And in addition to the general outline, the brickwork' finish is particularly noticeable. Hut bricks and mortar will not cure disease. It is the internal efficiency and medical equipment that matter. Rut it is a truly wonderful structure towards that end, and the decision of the Hospital Board to throw the building open for public inspection prior to its use as a hospital is an exceedingly wise one. for the people of the whole Hospital district. should see for themselves- wind they arc called upon to maintain. Through the munificent, gift of the kite Mr Gawthron and the Government, subsidy thereon, the people have been relieved of much, but money will have to be spent on maintenance, and it is well if the people themselves know from first hand observation how their money is to be spent. A GREAT’ FACT The great fact about the hospital is that the fine building and the up-to-date equipment to be installed will be at the service of the poorest- members of the community. Those in a position to pay will be called upon to do so. but the people its a whole foot t lie bill in the case of those nimble to pay. and are pleased to do so. provided the tins pitn 1 Board does its duly in seeing that there is no unfair evasion of fees. When an Evening Mail representative visited the. new building to-day, one fact that, stnick him particularly was that, for every foci of space provided for patients, two or three or more fed. are required for housing the services that the sick man requires. First., lie has to he fed, and also the large number of people employed—then for each form of special treatment provided, •extra space is needed. The four wards —men’s, women’s, children’s, and that for maternity cases—occupy a comparatively small portion of the building. But it must bo remembered that people enter a hospital, not simply for nursing but for treatment fo many kinds. It is a fine thing to sec a public institution like tins for fighting disease. Public hospitals have not been in existence for very many years—the past generation hardly knew .them. Today, however, Up. public conscience is such that the best service possible is provided for the sick. But after all prevention is better than cure, and wo would like to see the Hospital Board, along with its work in connection with curing the already sick, arrange with the local doctors for lectures on the maintenance of health. The time will come when as much skill and attention is given to instructing the people on the principes of sensible living, as are now provided for the moire obvious task of curing the sick.

LOOKING AHEAD The fact that so large a hospital is being provided for the Nelson district does not mean Hint a large extent of sickness is anticipated. Naturally, it lias been essential (n look' aliead. but the main reason for (lie big building, compared with the old, is that additional services are now provided, and these must be boused. DELTGHTFUT, BALCONIES Mucli of the upper storey lias now been completed. Here are situated the women’s ward and the children’s ward. They are wonderfully bright rooms, and open out on to spactious balconies specially constructed—the balconies ar n , quite a feature of the wards. In addition to wide doors the windows all open in a special way to enable beds to be wheeled out. and in as desired. Underneath is the men's ward, and underneath that again is the maternity ward. Both have the same verandah space as Howards above. On entering by way of the main entrance it- would seem that the maternity ward is in the basement but tin's is not really so. for this department is on a level with tileground on which the nurses' home is situated. There is also adjoining, a nursery, with special open-air space available when required. It is quite evident that great importance is attached to open-air treatment*, and it is safe to predict that many a patient will .rapidly regain Jiealth and strength, on these delightful balconies. Adjoining the. ward is the midwifery theatre, with special sterilising room adjoining. There will be ten beds in the maternity block, and this new feature is quite separate from the rest o*f the building. The X-ray room is situated in the basement. Up-to-date equipment is to be provided, and the' Jeveloning room has a light-trap entrance. This means that no plates xvill be lost through someone happening to open the ‘'door” of the developing room .for the simple reason that there is no door to open.

THE OPERATING THEATRE . For the operating theatre, the very latest appliances have been installed. Th e day and night lighting are special features, and all the plumbing fixtures arc very fine with wrist turns. Adjoining is the anaesthetising room, which is simple and, we presume, will enable the patient to be ‘'sent off" without catching sight perhaps of disturbing tilings in the operating theatre. Adjoining also, is a stcrilising-mom. fitted with special appliances for the purpose. To the basement near the X-ray mom the laboratory will he situated, with a workroom adjoining. Th r . massage mom is a. large sunny one, facing Kawai street. Near it. the plaster-work will he carried on. The dental mom. and hoard room, am situated on the upper storey above th ( , main entrance wliieh • faces Waimcn-slreet. Here the hmi.se surgeon is also provide,] with his mom. The secretary’s office is situated near the main entrance. Another interesting feature is a sun roof for sun treatment. THE KITCHEN It. is already apparent that the kitchen will be a model of efficiency. Various kinds of labour saving devices are being installed. 'I here are steam cookers, vegetable cookers, hot plate stove, with a serving room adjoining The fend is taken expeditiously to these on different floors by a lift. The servants' quarters are situated in the southern wing.'There is a good dining room arid a sitting room which should go a long way towards making employment at the institution attractive. INTERESTING FEATURES There are quite a. number of very interesting features about the new building. The rooms, for instance have no sharn corners. Those on both floors and walls have been rounded off. and the various benches and tables in nearly all instances are supported from

the walls in order to make iloc-r sweeping easy and thorough. The floors in many rooms are finished with Lama Hooting. The first layer consists of sawdust: and coke. Then follows a layer of the special ' patented composition. This has nut. been used in places where there is likely to lie a great deal ot loot tin flic, but in its right place it is said to give a wonderfully rilicieiit suiTaeo. In Mime of (lie wards the night lighting is from the floor. This prevents the light when switched on from shining in the patient's face, lit place of call hells there is a system of cnmmuui , eating lights. Instead of a bell ringing when the pa lit - 11 1 seeks allenl i< «n. a ligiit shows on a hoard. I his does ava\ with t lie constant. ringing "i bells. The A us! ia I sash balance windows arc also very interesting. Both windows. top and bottom, open in one operation, and the lower window re mains fastened an the bottom, thus preventing a i urient of keen air pass :ng over any patient near by. HEATING There is hardly a fireplace in tinwhole building. The steam beating pipes radiate through the whole building. and tin- beat can be regulated everywhere as required. Hot water ior baths, sinks, basins etc., fcs healed b\ steam in two- i aloriliers. Ihe steam (•nines ii fun the boiler house in the laundry, which is being constructed in file rear ward of the old hospital building. Heie (her,, are nvo big boilers, anil from these lo any portion of the new building is easily obtained the steam or hot water for the manifold requirements. In the laundry arc machine washers, etc., which should do away with a tremendous extent of hand work under the old system —unless it is in replacing buttons that seem likely to conic adrift in the process. We do not know if this is really so, Iml the dollies will certainly be subjected to thorough handling. Tin- architect of the new hospital is Mr A. lb (Irfliu. Mr G. 1!. Duke is clerk of work's, and Mr J. McKenzie is overseer in charge o fthe building operations for tin- contractor. Mr William son. of I'Tiristchiii'ch. Mr R. Kidd is Hie plasterer and M --s AyLng and King are tin* ” vi’o.e'-rs, i.r fI: M '’hrislGum fi