WESTLAND HOSPITAL.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 March 1923, Page 1

WESTLAND HOSPITAL.

BUILDING IMPHOVKM ENTS. t XFAY WING CO-M.pI.F.TI Xl*. it will lie remembered that on July 1 ldth., 191!) (Peace celebration day) , there was an interesting ceremonv at the Westland Hospital, when the foilll- - stone of the new wing and tui- . ; mmistriuive quarters was laid by bis * Worship the Mayor (G. A. Perry Esq..) 1 which are to complete the general plan of the main hospital buildings. In March of last year tenders were opened for the new wing and ndminiI strut ire quarters, but these were not , accepted, and the Board ultimately deck! d. with the concurrence of its export advisers to carry on the work by day labor, and Mr I). Stevenson "as appointed manager of the works. A commencement of operations was . commenced some nine mouths ago, a start being made first on the new wing which is now approaching completion, only awaiting the supply of the necessary sashes to practically finish the structure. The new wing which is an ornate slrivlure. on somewhat similar lines j to the other two wings of the hospital. I is 1 i lit. in length with a breadth of 2Sft.. with a covered in verandah 10ft. in width across the front and running hat h 00ft. on each side. The main ward which is (Hit. by 2 lit. wiil accommodation lli beds while there are three single bed wards (two with a fireplace and the other heated with a radiator), a patients dining room 18ft x 12ft, 2 linen rooms, a sister’s room, a treatment room (containing a steam cooker and steriliser), and a duty room (with steam cooker and hot water urn, steam heated). The sanitary annexe is very complete and up-to-date, tiled throughout, and with ample bath accommodation. The budding is light and airy, having l ift, walls, and is well supplied with windows and ventilation aeves'ories. In the main wa d there is an elect re- light bulb over each bed, with an electric radiator for beating purposes between tile beds. The whole of the walls and the ceiling are plastered, the latter with a special matting prep.nation that prevents the plaster breaking awa.v. The whole is tastefully decorated in quiet colours that are very restful to the eye. At the rear of the building below the ground iloor is a ealnrilier room lor heating purposes which will also he available as a storeroom. The outside walls are lougli east, in consonance with the older wards, while the roof is coveted with I‘elite roofing files, a very satisfactory outer covering. The ifiain approach is by a. ramped foot- 1 way, from either side of the Ironl of the building. The csim.ite for the whole work is about £M. 100, and the cost of that portion now approaching completion is about £O.OOO. AYiilt the completion of the present ward, the work of dismantling the ex- * Hiing administrative block will be taken in band. The present kitchen will not he interfered with until the new structure is finished, while other portions wiil be moved further back- 1 wards to enable the work of the in- f stitution in be earned on. * In addition to the brick structure referred to above, to the north of the ward has been completed a large iso- ■ lation building block, compt ising 1 patients rooms, three annexes, a linen room, kitchen room, w-itli a sterilis- 1 or, all nicely finished and healed by 1 steam, ready for use when the necessity | at any time arises. The Hospital Board was happy in its selection of a foreman of works, and under the capable management by Mr |>. Steven-on the building operations ) have progressed smoothly and expedi- 1 tlously. and to the satisfaction ol Mr Allan, the Government Hospitals Department's architect, who eu his regular visits of inspection, repeatedly lias expressed his satisfaction at the steady progress made and the quality of the work and attention to detail given by the management. It is not proposed to use the main ward at present, though it "ill be prepared for use in case of necessity, but some of the smaller rooms will be utilised after F.aster for the purposes they were originally intended.