HOSPITAL TOO SMALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19947, 16 May 1928, Page 14

HOSPITAL TOO SMALL.

ALL ACCOMMODATION TAXED. PATIENTS ON WAITING LIST. URGENT NEED OF EXTENSION.

"If there was an accident of any magnitude, 1 am sure we would not have accommodation for the victims at the hospital," said Mr. W. Wallace, chairman of the Auckland Hospital Board, yesterday, commenting on tho urgent need of increased accommodation at the hospital. Mr. Wallace said a record was created last Thursday, when there were 652 patients in the hospital, and some had to be accommodated in lounges. There were over 50 on the waiting list, and only urgent cases were admitted.

"Further accommodation must be provided to cope with the needs of an evergrowing city," added Mr. Wallace. "We should have three beds per thousand of our population. That would mean 750 beds, but we have only 650." The medical superintendent, Dr. C. E. Maguire, also commented on the position, in his anuual report to the board. "At times the hospital is taxed to its fullest capacity and patients havo had, on many occasions, to bo placed in lounges," Dr. Maguire said. "A number of patients are brought to us whose disabilities are due entirely to old age, and whose proper place is the infirmary. They occupy beds for a time in the hospital, which should be occupied by patients acutely ill, and it is not infrequently a difficult matter to get them transferred to tho infirmary, as that institution is often very full. A larger number of patients suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis have been admitted to hospital than in previous years. They are sent in as urgent cases. The ultimate disposal of these patients presents difficulties at times. In addition to admitting patients from our own hospital district we have, not infrequently, to find accommodation for patients from other districts, who require special treatment in our special departments."

It was unanimously decided to recommend the building committee to consider the renovation of the old wooden wards 11 and 12, with a view to bringing them into uso again. The committee was given power to act.