HOSPITAL POLICY

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24101, 21 October 1941, Page 8

HOSPITAL POLICY

FUTURE BUILDING

NORTH SHORE FACILITIES SMALL MATERNITY UNIT A decision to acquire a site and to have sketch plans prepared for an eight-bed maternity unit on the North Shore was reached at a special meeting of the Auckland Hospital Board last night called for the purpose of discussing the board's future building policy. This was the only decision made entailing immediate action, the board resolving after a two-hour discussion to refer the whole question of policy to its Building Committee with power to co-opt.

The chairman, Mr. Allan J. Moody, said that in spite of obstacles the present and the previous board had made considerable progress, but they were now in the middle of a world war and they must not ho too optimistic about starting a groat building programme. Many suggestions as to what should be proceeded with and the lines to be followed were made during the ensuing discussion. The point was made that the Auckland Hospital had fewer beds per 1000 of population than the other three main centres, but it was stated that this was being met by the construction of considerable additional accommodation at the infirmary. It was decided to instruct the Building Committee "to bring down a comprehensive policy in connection with the building programme." The construction of a maternity hospital on the North Shore was urged by Sir. J. Guiniven and a resolution to bring this about was moved by the chairman. The addition to this hospital. a clinic to treat outpatients and urgent accident cases, will also be considered, the proposal being that such a clinic should be under the control of the district nurse.