WELLINGTON HOSPITAL

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 57, 1 December 1926, Page 14

WELLINGTON HOSPITAL

THE NEW BUILDINGS FIRST OF PROSPECTIVE REMODELLING SCHEME The two blocks of buildings for the Wellington Hospital, which are now being "erected by the Fletcher Construction Companv, under the present contract, comprise, really, the first portion of a prospective general remodelling scheme. .in order to extend tlie capacity of the institution, and bring it up to modern requirements. The two blocks consist of the admission and administrative building admitting on Riddiford Street, and the geilito-uriuary department at the back of the same street, both being connected by a wide corridor with the present building. This connecting corridor is on the first floor of the front block, and will be level with the main corridor of the existing hospital. The front block consists of four stories, the lowest being a small basement, which will contain the social welfare offices, the ambulance rooms, and ample store rooms. On the ground floor, to the left of the entrance portico to the main Hall, are the receiving rooms, the porters’ rooms, the record rooms, the lift to the upper floor, and the casualty ward. At the back, of this building will be a ward for the children’s cases—adenoids, etc. ; and next to it an accident examination room. In this block there are ample rooms for nurses, doctors, etc. - - To the right of the portico is the out-patients’ department, consisting of a large admission hall, with numerous rooms for doctors and others. There is also, in a convenient position, a dispensary, connected with a lift to the upper floor. The first floor of the front block will contain the lecture hall for nurses, various study rooms, and bedroom accommodation for a portion of the resident medical staff. This block also contains the board room, the library, the secretary’s department, the public offices, and the rooms for the medical superintendent, the matron, and the honorary medical staff. On the top floor is situated the dental clinic; also further accommodation for the resident medical staff—recreation rooms —dining rooms. . The second block comprises the genito-uriuarv building, and contains three large wards for patients, in addition to several smaller wards.' There are bedrooms on each floor. There is an outpatients’ department for special cases; also a wing for the urological cases. The construction of the building is reinforced concrete framing filled in with brick facings. The trimmings are of coloured cement, lhe floors and staircases throughout will be of concrete ; and, generally speaking, the construction will be highly earthquake and fire-resisting. The various departments will be equipped with the most modern sanitary and other appliances. There will also be installed a complete Steam heating and sterilising plant, and the same agency will be employed in generating tlie domestic supply of hot water, and for doing a part of the cooking. The lighting will be by electricity from the city supply ; but there will be a standbv plant belonging to the hospital, with numerous emergency lights scattered throughout the building in case of the failure of Mangahao, which sometimes happens. ~± , The style adopted by the architects for the external elevation is that known as the Georgian. The contract was let to the Fletcher Construction Company for about £146 000, and the construction work started in April, 1025. The contract was to be completed by May 1, 1927, but through various delays, caused by the coal strike, delivery of the steel, etc., it. is expected that the building will not now be finished until September of 1927. , The architects for the building are Messrs. Crichton, McKay, and Haughton.