MINISTER'S REPLY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 219, 16 September 1943, Page 4

MINISTER'S REPLY

TO AUCKLAND HOSPITAL BOARD (P.A.) Oamaiu, Sept. 15. The Minister of Health, the Hon. A. H. Nordmeyer, commented to-day oil the Press reports of statements made by the chairman of the Auckland Hospital Board, Dr. Alan Moody, concerning lhe refusal of the department to erect the nurses’ home at a certain place in the hospital grounds at Auck- L land. r “The board's proposal was to provide 45 additional heds. The proposal was not agreed to for very good reasons. In the first place, it was suggested that the bedrooms should be of 80 square feet, whereas 90 is regarded as the minimum and 100 as the standard. Secondly, no baths were provided. Thirdly, there were no sitting-rooms. Fourthly, there was no heating and many rooms were sunless. Fifthly, some rooms were overlooked by patients in adjoining wards and were seriously interfering with the view from those wards. “Alternative proposals outlined to the board by the Director-General of Health were" that, a two-storeyed home in* the same material as the board suggested should be erected at a more suitable site and could be used permanently for junior nurses or maids. The chairman's reference to political control and failure to heed the advice of experts comes strangely from the chairman of the Auckland Hospital Board.”