TO BE CLOSED

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 227, 24 April 1933, Page 3

TO BE CLOSED

ROTORUA HOSPITAL

Costly and Unsuitable

FUTURE UNDECIDED

Hamilton, April 20.—The intention of the Meal til Department to close King George V. Hospital, Roforiiu, was' intimated in a communication from Dr. Watt. Director-General of Health, received al a special meeting of the W>tikato Hospital Board today. The department; asked the heard lo assume full responsibility for hospital facilities in the Rotorua district. Dr. Watt said the present extensive grounds surrounding King George Hospital and the large number of buildings everted when the institution functioned as a special orthopaedic hospital, made it costly to maintain and unsuitable as a district hospital. It was suggested that owing to this factor coupled with the difficulty ol giving the board a title lo the land, ■I smaller hospital should be established on another site. Hs was prepared to recommend toe Government to meet part or till of the capital cost involved, either by handing over to Hie hoard free of cos! a fully equipped hospitial of 30 to 40 beds or by making a grant not exceeding £2500, with the gift of the necessary buildings and equipment. In the event of the department establishing ii hospital it was planned to remodel and add to the existing institutions as an isolation hospital. Members considered the matter needed full discussion, owing to the uncertainty of the extent of financial assistance from the Govenuuet. The matter was deferred till the next general meeting.