MORE ACCOMMODATION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 25, 16 September 1946, Page 5

MORE ACCOMMODATION

URGENT HOSPITAL NEED PLANS TO BE PREPARED Repeating the Inspector’s reports that early steps should be taken to increase the accommodation for the nursing and domestic staffs at the local hospital, the Chairman of the Board (Mr J. Mullins) last Thursday stated that until proper amenities were available the Board was always likely to have its staffing problems. He urged that something should now be done towards the construction of the proposed 30-bed nurses’ home.

Mr Mullins stated that at the present time two nurses were compelled to sleep in the vacant Children’s Ward, five were boarding with a neighbouring household, three were boarded in their own homes, and the balance were spread over the cottages and the existing Nurses’ Home. The Whakatane institution had no amenities as were provided in other hospitals, such as sister’s sitting-rooms, or a sitting-room for the domestic staff, and ’ maternity trainees. He considered it time therefore to consider the original proposal of the 30-bed addition to the present Nurses’ Home. Mr McCready: The old proposal was estimated to cost £2OOO per bed. By this time it will be costing us £2OOO per bed. He objected, he said to people who lived, amongst carpets a foot deep coming along and telling the Board what to do in a country district. The Board finally decided to agree to approach the architect for an estimate of the cost of the proposal, together with up-to-date plans and specifications. Mr McGougan (drily): And tell him to go ahead with the job. Entire Board in chorus: No-o-o-o!