HAWERA HOSPITAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 July 1923, Page 3

HAWERA HOSPITAL.

NEW BUILDING PROPOSALS. NOW OVERCROWDED. / (From Our Own Reporter.) Hawera, July 9. The pressing need of a new hospital at Hawera was the subject of a letter to the Department of Health from the secretary of the board which came before the board yesterday. “We have now reached a stage where it is impossible to postpone building operations any longer, and the board has decided to approach the Minister for Health with a view to the commencement of the long-delayed new hospital,” the letter stated. As early as 1916 the board decided to embark on a big building scheme, and plans were submitted to the Minister for Health, the present operating theatre, erected in 1916-17 being part of the scheme. Difficulties were met with, and it became apparent that the board had not made sufficient provision for future expansion, the present site being inadequate and not altogether suitable. The idea of building on the present site was abandoned. A site consisting of 29 acres, on the Hunter Road, was purchased, and plans were prepared for the new building, and an agreement reached on the general lay-out of the building. Shortly afterwards the financial depression took place, and in deference to the Minister’s request, building operations were again postponed. The hospital statistics show that in 1910-11 the admissions of patients totalled 235, while in 1922-23 the total reached 515. The hospital is equipped I for 48 beds, and in March last the aver- , age number of occupied beds for many days was 55. The greatest congestion I occurs in the men’s department, and ali most every evening beds have to be ! made up in the men’s convalescent room, I and even the padded cell has had to be ; requisitioned. The T.B. revolving shelters have had to accommodate two beds i instead of one. The masseuse has to conduct a large portion of her work in , the dispensary, and the chimney had to ' be pulled down to accommodate her apparatus. It is not proposed to scrap the present buildings. Some portions may have to be done away with, but it is the board’s intention to convert the men’s ward into an olfl people’s home, and the children’s ward and the operating theatre into a maternity hospital. The board intends to borrow the money for building purposes. The Director-General of Health (Dr. T. H. A. Valentine) replied to the board stating that he would shortly be in Ha'wera, and would go into the master on the spot. There was no doubt that it was wise to raise a loan for the building.