FOR THE FUTURE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17572, 24 June 1925, Page 7

FOR THE FUTURE.

A SUBSIDIARY HOSPITAL MR H. H. HOLLAND’S MOTION. OPPOSITION AT BOARD MEETING. Pursuant to notice of motion, Mr 11. H. Holland moved at the meeting of the North Canterbury Hospital Board to-day : “That steps be taken by the board to acquire a sufficient and suitable area of ground for a future Subsidiary Hospital in or near the city of Christchurch immediately. “That suitable sites of not less than five acres be advertised for. and that a committee be set up to investigate and report upon this matter." In speaking to the motion, Mr Holland said that the first question to ask ■was. whether there was any need to take action along the lines indicated by this motion. They all commended the foresight of the early colonists in the way they had designed many tilings for future generations. Similar obligations rested upon them at present. He would say that although it might bo thirty years before a fresh site was required they should put themselves in a position to secure one now whenever a suitablo opportunity occurred When the present hospital which was in a most convenient location, particularly for accidents, had been developed to its limits, which was a long way off yet, it would be very desirable to have an auxiliary hospital established not very far from the present hospital. Hospitals for general purposes must of necessity be handy to'the doctors, and the doctors generally would always have their consulting rooms in the heart of the town; that was a very important reason, in the interests of the patients, why a hospital should not be a great distance from that centre. If the securing of a site was left until it was required for future hospital purposes, he continued, it would be extremely difficult and costly to obtain one then in a convenient and suitable location. “ One cannot altogether judge what will happen in the future,” said Mr Holland, “ but, in my opinion, the present hospital will ultimately become a hospital of special departments, and only patients requiring special treatment will be dealt with there. Of course, there will always be accommodation for accidents, and an out-pa-tients’ department. In time the bone and joint T.B. cases will go elsewhere into special quarters, as also in time only those chronic cases which require special treatment, will be housed in the now special block for such cases, and those requiring medical attention only will be required to go elsewhere, because in a very short time the present block for chronics will not be able to accommodate all classes of those cases. Special maternity cases now dealt with at the hospital can in the future be attended to elsewhere.” “ A subsidiary hospital could be established to advantage where those requiring only nursing annd medical attention could be treated, where some surgical work could be done, and possibly where th-e whole of the throat, nose and ear cases could be attended to. This question has been discussed with some of the leading doctors, and those consulted arc all in accord with the proposal. “To instance the way we may be missing an opportunity to acquire a desirable site, I may say that last June, prior to my bringing the matter of maternity accommodation and provision for patients able to pay medical fees before the board, I had a good look round the city, and found a very suitable site for a possible new maternity home and other future hospital requirements. That site has since been secured by another organisation for a different future institution. Only a week ago I found that another block of land, which I had previously visited, had just had a road made across it. In view of these happenings, and of the whole situation and future outlook, I think the board will be wise to seek a future site of, say, ten, fifteen or twenty acres, and when a favourable opportunity occurs should be in a position to acquire it." "1 think we all agree that it would be undesirable to seek space in the Domain grounds for further hospital extensions, but it will have to be sought somewhere when once the present hospital has got to its limit, and while that time, in my opinion, is a long way oil. I am convinced that we should prepare for that time now. There certainly has been a very pronounced expression of public opinion in favour of the nurses’* he Tie being built upon what is known as the horse paddock in_preference to the vegetable garden, but I think there has been an equally strong expression of opinion that no more of the park should be used for hospital purposes, after the nurses’ hpme has been provided for, and personally, while I have not been guided in this matter by these expressions of opinion, I concur in them, and 1 hope the board will approve of the policy which I have outlined." The motion was seconded by Mr I'. G. Norton. Mr F. Ilorrcll said he trusted the board would very seriously consider the proposal. He thought it would be a burden on the present generation to buy more land. The board was doing its duty well at present and they would be going to extremes to purchase more property. Mr \Y. E. Leadley said he had no cnthuiasm for the proposal and he did not think Mr Holland had cither. Mr Holland: “I have.” Mr Lead lev said he thought Mr Holland had been led astray by the criticisms of a certain Christchurch newspaper, though he was probably sincere with regard to the Nurses’ Home. The land held by the board at present was sufficient for fifty years. The policy of the Hospital Board should be to utilise tho ground they already have to the very best, ad vantage. This had not, been done in the past. The buildings and wards \\ Oje too scattered about instead of being built up in the air. They were nearly all of one storey. tSomo of th® largest hospitals in London occupied less ground than the Christchurch Hospital. Th© wards should b© pulled down and rebuilt with the view of making tho best possible use of tho land. Ho thought the board would bo ill-advised to go on with Mr Holland’s proposal. i The Rev J K. Archer moved that the

matter bo vcferrcl to tlie 1 Committor for consideration. I 'ns would bo better than turning the pronosal down. Mrs TL It. M*Combs seconded Air Archer’s amendment. At the same time the committee could make inquiries regarding a suitable site lot a Nurses’ Home. She was opposed to any encroachment, on the Domain Board’s property. The llcv Clyde Carr said ho understood that many of the medical men were against the present site of the hospital, considering that it should be shifted to a more healthy locality. The chairman (Mr W. P. Spencer) said Mr Holland was to he commended for bringing the matter forward. ITc was of the same opinion as Mr Carr that the board should go further afield They should go in for a. 200 acre site even as far out as Rnngiorn. They could then grow their own food and obtain their own milk. The Rev F. Rule: If your experience is Hie same as mine it will he better to buy your milk. “The board should go in for a farm round about Belfast/’ said "Mr Spencer. “Belfast!” ejaculated Mr Leadley, and hearty laughter ensued. Mr TV. J. Walter expressed th.a opinion that if the hoard moved away from the present site they should go to Cashmere Hills, which was a fine healthy place. Tho matter was eventually referred to the Finance Committee.