HOSPITAL CONGESTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17660, 22 December 1920, Page 6

HOSPITAL CONGESTION.

NURSES' HOME NECESSARY.

MORE WARDS- SPACE NEEDED.

$NADEQUATE ACCOMMODATION.

The building requirements at the Auckland Hospital were referred to last evening by the chairman of the Hospital Board, Mr. W. Wallace, when a request by the Inspector-General of Hospitals for a return showing the board's commitments was under consideration.

Mr. Wallace said there was no doubt the board should adopt an extensive building scheme if it was. coin£ to keep faith with the public. This, however, could not be done, unless it first of all erected a nurses' home. At the present time 70 nurses slept away from the hospital. Accommodation was required for these and for an additional 20 nurses who were needed at the institution. Therefore the' board was in the position requiring housing for 150 nurses and the present building ojilv provided! accorn« modition for 50.

| The hospital required renovating, and i the medical superintendents had urged | that there should be a " rest ward " at i the institution. It was important that there should always be a " rest ward j available when any one of the others ; was in the hands of the cleaners. Then ! the board would have tcy take into ' account the matter of providing for j urgent necessary additions to the hos- ! pital. Sometimes there were as many | as 40 or 50 patients on the waiting list. | and this would have to be remedied. He I moved that the matter of commitments |be referred to the Finance Committee | for a report. Mr. J. Rowe seconded the motion. He j said that he hoped the Finance Commitj tee would take into consideration tlie j matter of an. infirmary ward for women ! at the Costley Home. The motion was carried.