HOSPITAL NEEDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22777, 10 July 1937, Page 14

HOSPITAL NEEDS

AUCKLAND'S PROBLEM ATTITUDE OF DEPARTMENT THE USE OF WILSON HOME EXPEDITING NEW BUILDING The Wilson Home for Crippled Children at Takapuna is to bo taken over almost immediately by the Auckland Hospital Board for the accommodation of infantile paralysis cases, and. at the same time, the construction of a new wing at the Auckland Hospital is likely to be expedited in order to relieve the serious overcrowding which exists at present. These are the main results to date of discussions which have been carried on in Wellington by the chairman of the Auckland Hospital Board, the Rev. W. C. Wood, with the Minister of Health, the Hon. P. Fraser, and officials of the Health Department. Free Hand for Board Discussing the matter in a telephone conversation with the Herald last night, Mr. Wood said that Mr. Fraser had agreed to the use of the \\ ilson Home provided that satisfactory arrangements were made for the installation of special baths and the necessary massage equipment. The board would bo given a free hand to carry out these arrangements as rapidly as possible, and the deed under which the board would take over the administration of the homo would be signed next week. ' "With regard to the overcrowding at the Auckland Hospital, I am still in conference with the authorities, Mr. Wood said. "In all probability the outcome will be a decision to expedite the building of a new north wing, in order that patients may be transferred there before the demolition of any existing unit. Modifications Indicated "To pull down a building without having at least the same number of beds available elsewhere would only mean adding to our present difficulties," Mr. Wood continued. "I have discussed with the department both the plans prepared by the board's architect, which were adopted by the board, and the scheme put forward by Messrs. Stephenson and Meldrum, of Melbourne. Neither scheme is acceptable to the department in its entirety, and it seems that there will have to be modifications and alterations in several inspects to meet official requirements. These matters, of course, are not yet finalised." Mr. Wood said he was extremely gratified with the progress he had made in his discussions with the Minister and officials of the department. He hoped to reach finality on a number of points before he left Wellington tomorrow evening on his return to Auckland.