MUST BE APART

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 650, 30 April 1929, Page 6

MUST BE APART

I INFECTIOUS DISEASES BLOCK “ATROCITY,” SAYS DR. GUNSON rpHE infectious diseases block must be apart from the main hospital building. No hospital board is entitled to despoil the beautiful slope of that hillside ... it is an atrocity which should not be allowed. These statements were made emphatically last evening by Dr. E. B. Gunson, a candidate for the Hospital Board, in his address at the Lewis Eady Hall. He said that the board was committed to the erection of an infectious diseases block in the present hospital grounds. “I am strongly opposed to this, and I speak with nine months' resident experience in one of the largest London fever hospitals,” said the doctor. “With perfect isolation and perfect organisation there is no fear of infection from a building in this situation, but perfect isolation is impossible in conjunction with genex-al hospital work. I shall advise, if I am elected, and will indicate to the board that the infectious diseases wards must be apart from the main hospital building. All that is required at the General Hospital is an adequate isolation block.” Dr. Gunson said that the hospital did require an isolation block. This had been recommended when he was a member of the honorary staff five years ago. An isolation block was an integral part of any modern hospital, but an infectious diseases block was not. “The only place for an infectious diseases hospital is, in my opinion, a detached site away from the main hospital,” continued the doctor. “To suggest, as has been done, that this contemplated block can be utilised later for general medical cases, is futile. The building will be unsuitable in plan, and placed so far from the central activities of the hospital to make it an economic failure/’ The doctor remarked that the present wooden block was a menace, and a match might set it alight at any time.