MODERN HOSPITAL

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 195, 16 May 1944, Page 4

MODERN HOSPITAL

Opening Ceremony At Lower Hutt ULTIMATE PROVISION FOR 410 BEDS “I am one of those who believe in using every advancement of science for the benefit of the people,” declared Mr. F. Castle, chairman of the Wellington Hospital Board, when opening the new hospital in Lower Hutt yesterday afternoon. “Medical knowledge Is not secret, and I think that after this war we shall find that the advancement in the treatment o fthe sick has been very great, and everyone will benefit from it.” Mr. Castle was referring to the line equipment with which the new hospital is being established, and its excellent staffing arrangements. He drew a comparison between the situation today and that obtaining in the early (Jays of hospitals in Wellington. The first hospital, he said, was established in brick on the Thorndon flat in 1847, on a site on or close to that now occupied by the Wellington Girls’ College in Pipitea Street. In the following year the building was partially destroyed by earthquake and had to be evacuated, but a second building, this time in to-, tara and riniu, also on Thorndon Flat, was opened in 1853. This second hospital lasted tor about 25 years, but the growing population macle larger accommodation necessary and the first blocks were erected at Newtown of the present hospital. These were now known as wards 1,2, 3, and 4, with the high and wide corridor linking them just as it is today. Early Staffing Methods. The first hospital at Thorndon was in charge of a medical officer and most of the attention was given by wardsnien. In 1885, the Newtown hospital had a medical officer, a matron, 15 nurses, and two wardsnien. Wellington Hospital was the first in New Zealand, Mr. Castle mentioned, which replaced wardsnien and untrained female attendants by a real nursing service. This was in 1884, when Mrs. Moore was appointed lady superintendent and a training school was instituted which attracted a more highly educated type of young women to the institution. In 1885 the system was further extended and this divided the nursing service into head nurses and senior and junior probationers. Dr. J. Cairney, medical supenntenqent-in-chief of the Wellington Hospital Board, in detailing the accommodation and facilities of the new hospital, said that the ceremony was a fulfilment of at least part of their dreams. He paid a tribute to the great help he, as representative of the board, had received from the Commissioner of Works, Mr. Fletcher, and also from the late Dr. Shore, of the Department of Health. Two blocks of the hospital were nearing completion, he said, with a part already occupied- Each of these blocks contained 100 beds, and there were 30 beds in the administrative block which would be available for occupation shortly, so that 230 patients would be provided for. A further 180 beds in the wards on the top floor of the administrative block would be ready at a later date. There were four operating theatres, each with its ancillary service rooms. These were ready and, indeed, one of them had already been “used. At the back of the administrative block, in a timber frame building, there were the out-pa-tients’ department, the casualty ward, the dispensary, and the admission and records office on the ground floor, and on the first floor, the laboratory, massage, X-ray. and dental departments. T|ie dispensary was already in full use. When all these services were completed, Dr. Cairney declared, the hospital would be capable of dealing with all the regular types of cases. The Nurses’ Home.

The nurses’ home, which had accommodation in most comfortable’form for 180, was ready and partly occupied. With the increased aceomiiiodation for patients being provided, however, this, would not be sufficient, and foundations for a further wing of the home were already laid down. “Dr. Fogg, the superintendent of the hospital, will be admitting all types civilian patients in a few, weeks, saiq Dr. Cairney, who had mentioned that already a number of soldier patients were in one of the timber frame blocks, lhe modern staffing practice is such that we find we need one nurse to 1.5 patients, and with surgeons and physicians, and odd carpenters,'boilermen and other staff, the number approaches one for each patient-” „ t T vtr The mayor of Lower Hutt, Mr. J. W. Andrews, said that great credit was due to Dr. Cairney for his courage in advocutin# the erection of 'buildings of the lighter type, which cost very much lessv than the substantial type normally provided for hospitals. With the Quickchanging technique or hospitalization this would most probably be good practice, for they would last till they were outdated, and could then be pulledl down. The' hospital was fully equal to those in the more solid type of tuiW’nS. He expressed the thanks of Hutt Valley contributing bodies for the provision of the facilities bv the hospital board. The Minister of Defence. Mr. Jones, after expressing the regret of the actingPrime Minister, Mr. Sullivan, and the Minister of Health. Mr. Nordmeyer, that they were unable to be present, said he wished to convey the good wishes ot the Government to the retiring chairman ot the board. Mr. Castle, and to Mrs. Castle. Mr. Castle had done great work in his period of service with the board. . The new hospital would go a considerable’ way toward reducing the excessive overcrowding which obtained nt M pilington Hospital. The use of Silverstream Hospital for the accommodation of medical eases, probably from the Otaki Hospital. would release the latter for its real purpose, the children’s health camp. Mr. Jones paid a tribute to the ability of New Zealand doctors. Tn Ins visits to the troops overseas he had been able to see the wonderful attention the sick and wounded received, and he was glad to say that through the skill of the doctors arid the willing obedience in their instructions by the inen the number of cases of malaria from the Pacific area was less than 1 per cent. ' 'When tlie Hutt Hospital was complete, he added, it would be the sixtn largest in the Dominion.