HOSPITAL NEEDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22399, 21 April 1936, Page 10

HOSPITAL NEEDS

WHANGAREI SCHEME COST OF UP TO £12,000 ADDITIONAL ACCOMMODATION APPROVAL BY THE BOARD [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] WHANGAREI, Monday The Whangarei Hospital Board at its meeting to-day unanimously approved of an estimated expenditure of from £IO,OOO to £12,000 involved in tho recommendation contained in the report of Dr. R. A. Shore, director of the hospitals division of the Health Department, 011 the proposal for additions and alterations to the as a result of his recent visit and inspection. "The hospital is poorly equipped with side rooms and those present are not well placed," stated tho report. "The women's division is particularly overcrowded." The chief immediate needs wore n. new ward lor women medical patients, central store accommodation, quarters for the resident medical staff, additional office accommodation, maids' dining room, nurses lecture and demonstration room, additional laundry accommodation, and additional laboratory accommodation. Two Schemes Submitted Two schemes were submitted by Dr. Shore to tho board. The first involved the replacement of the central wooden portion of the present building by a modern two-storey block, which would mean that tho hospital would ultimatelv consist of a central two-storey block'containing four wards and a single storey ward at either end. Iho cost of this scheme would be high and would mean the demolition of a warn that still had many years of useful The second scheme, which the board adopted, provides for considerable structural alterations, tho principal items being the erection of a new ward between the women's ward and the men's medical ward, removal or tho maids' cottage to a new position a new laundry with an auxiliary boiler, new offices, a second storey to bo added to the present laundry, and demolition of tho present dispensary, the present laboratory to become the dispensary. The report stated that tho estimated cost would not be less than £IO,OOO to £l2 000. The adoption of the scheme would provide only a limited number of additional beds and if they were thought to be insufficient then the more comprehensive scheme of gradual replacement of the central portion with a modern block should be consideicd. Statement by Chairman On tho motion of the chairman, Mr. J. A. S. Mackay, tho board agreed that the scheme of capital improvement as outlined in Dr. Shore's second report be approved and the cost be raised by Joan moneys. The chairman said when Dr. Shore visited the hospital lie condemned tho present scheme, submitting 0110 that would involve about £50,000. The speaker said the board would not support this expenditure, and after further reconsideration Dr. Shore submitted the less costly scheme which was almost identical with the board's original suggestion. " Under normal conditions," said tho chairman, " the proposed additional accommodation will meet the position for the next 20 years. On the other hand, if amalgamation between tho Kaipara and Whangarei Boards takes place the requirements would not be met, but .amalgamation does not appear likely. The great difficulty is "that we have only one women's ward and that is frequently over-crowded. The expenditure of £12,000 will increase the board's indebtedness to £19,000, which would not be greater than about 12 years ago." At Mr. W. J. McKinley's suggestion it was also agreed that some moro up to date method of developing steam inthe laundry other than by coal be investigated. SALARIES OF STAFF RESTORATION OF THE CUT SENIOR MEMBERS BENEFIT [BY TELEGRAMI—-OWN CORRESPONDENT] WHANGAREI, Monday " I would like to assure the board that the proposed increases in salary are not made in a spirit of extravagance—we have a good staff and they should receive adequate remuneration," said the chairman, Mr. J. A. S. Mackay, at to-day's meeting of tho Whangarei Hospital Board in moving the adoption of the House Committee's recommendation to restore certain salaries to their former level prior to the cut. The increases cover all the senior members of the f»taff and range from 2\ per cent to 15 per cent, involving a total of approximately £SOO a year. The junior officers, who comprise the majority of the staff, had their salaries restored some time ago. Tho present increases provide for the raising of the medical superintendent's salary to £950 a year and the assistant superintendent's to £450. " There are many on our staff whom we would bo very sorry to lose and we must pay in accordance with tho rate paid in other parts of the Dominion," said the chairman. The recommendation was carried unanimously.