HOSPITAL EXTENSION

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 20966, 19 February 1938, Page 9

HOSPITAL EXTENSION

£750,000 WANTED By Telegraph —Press Assoc.iatloD WELLINGTON, February 18. Many aspects of the Wellington Hospital Board’s £750,000 loan proposals for the new centenary block, additions to the nurses’ home and for the erection of a boiler house were discussed at a conference of representatives of the Hospital Board contributory local authorities and others at Parliament buildings to-night. The conference was called by the Minister of Health, the Hon. P. Fraser, who presided. The Minister, in opening the conference, said the object was to examine a full statement of the position in the hospital, of the provision at present made and to consider what was required for the future. Dr. R. A. Shore, who investigated the Board’s building proposals, reported that the accommodation for patients was short of about 250 beds, and the accommodation for nurses required an additional 140 to 150 bedrooms. The scheme put forward by the Board’s architect was considered to be the best. Beyond the completion of the present proposed block, no further extension should be considered on the present site.

The Mayor (Mr T. C. A. Hislop) said if this service had to be provided in the interests of the health of the community, then they had got to see wi.at they could do about providing it, but it meant cutting down other services. He also raised the question of the incidence of hospital taxation, which the Minister said was outside the scope of that narticular meeting.