CHEST BLOCK

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 17, 17 October 1944, Page 5

CHEST BLOCK

GOVERNMENT'S OFFER HELD OVER

lOSPITAL BOARD'S DISCUSSION

Discussing at the last meeting of the Hospital Board the offer of the Health Department to provide the sum of £20 ; 000 for the erection of a chest block at the Whakatane Hospital f the chairman (Mr L. Buddie') seated that the whole position had moved recently until now the offer was held in temporary abeyance until such time ais a further conference could be arranged with Government officials.

Mr Buddie went on to say thai following the first Government offe] in this it had been sug gested that the chest or T.B. block could be constructed over the new women's ward which was now ii the process of being built. This would make for a two storied structure which would cate,r for both re quircments. A sketch plan for tlii: purpose had been prepared but then were other aspects, which entered into the scheme such as costs in other and the allocation of tlie building adjustments; new boiler capacity would be required for heating; and increased domestic arrangements and staff accommoda tion' would be needed. The Board required a clear statement as to the new position which would arise, and suggested a conference througV Mr W. Sullivan M.P. The latcs-

response to this had been a wire from the Minister to the effect that he regretted the. impossibility of f conference in the near and it had now been declared, in view of the, inevitable delay, to abandon the two storied scheme and to instruct the architect, when next visiting the district to go into the question of site, with the Board. He did not. want it thought for one moment that the Board had declined the Government's offer. It wa: common knowledge that the block under discussion was needed urgent.ly for the health of the but it would increase maintenance costs, and would have to be faced up to. Mr Mull ins counselled that the proposal should not be pursued toe energetically until the forthcoming conference with other boards in the Bay had taken place. Mr McGougan agreed that the position, was most difficult as the offer from the Government would undoubtedly create an asset for the Board. Against this the majority of the members were, definitely pledged to cut down capital expenditure. He woult nevertheless, be. sorry to see them lose this offer.

Mr Caulfield asked if acceptancc of the grant would prejudice the Board's position with regard to its proposal for a central T.B- Hospital in the. Bay.

The Board decided eventually that it had nothing to lose by asking for a conference on the matter with the department at the earliest pos sible. moment and this course wa:

adopted