NEW OPERATING THEATRE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 67, 20 March 1942, Page 4

NEW OPERATING THEATRE

WANGAM I HOSPITAL NEEDS “It takes us all our time to get the ordinary set ope; ai ions done each day. Emergency work must be lilted in as best as possible ” said the medical superintendent, Dr. H. L. Widdowson, when the need for a n f, w theati’c block for the Wanganui Hospital was raised at the Hospital Board's monthly meeting yesterday. Operations performed in 1936 totalled 947. but by the end of 194 i l.h n y had increased to 1681, said Dr. Widdowson. The chairman. Mr. W. E. Broderick (Maxwell): An average of live operations a day is almost incredible. It proves that the present theatre is inadequate. "I don’t say that th°y are all major operations, but they mu -t be / e,” Dr. Widdowson replied. Conditions in the theatre were no l good for the surgeons, said the architect. Mr. C. Newton Hood who added that the place lacked ventilation. Surgeons were often required to work in high temperatures, and did not have anterooms or conveniences for changing. "From past experience it would be about two years before Dr. Widdowson got his new theatre, remarked Mr. T. C. Kincaid (Taihape) before the discussion lapsed.