NEW MATERNITY WARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20743, 10 December 1930, Page 14

NEW MATERNITY WARD.

BUILDING AT HAMILTON.

ROOM FOR EIGHTEEN PATIENTS.

HOSPITAL BOARD'S ENTERPRISE

[B¥ TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

HAMILTON, Tuesday,

The now maternity ward at tho Waikato Hospital has been completed and will bo officially oponod by tho Minister of Health, tho Hon. A. J. Stalhvorthy, on Thursday afternoon. Tho ward is situated in the hospital grounds on tho west side of tho main building, with which it is connected by a subway. It consists of two floors and has accommodation for 18 patients.

In addition to tho eight wards, the building is equipped with sitting rooms, nursery and a convalescent ward. Tho building is constructed of brick and is dosigned in the Georgian style. The agitation for a public maternity ward at Hamilton commenced in January, 1919. Tho original idea was that a St. Helens Hospital should bo built, but the Health Department favoured tho erection of a maternity ward in connection with the general hospital. Approval of a building to cost £12,000 finally obtained on November 11, 1929, and the work was proceeded with under the direction of tho Waikato Hospital Board's architects, Messrs. Edgecumbe and White. Tho ward has been approved as a training school for maternity nurses and has been named "The Campbell Johnstone Ward," in honour of the late chairman of the board.