ISOLATION WARD.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4809, 11 February 1925, Page 3

ISOLATION WARD.

ESTABLISHMENT AT THAMES.

DISCUSSED BY HOSPITAL BOARD.

At Monday’s meeting ofl the Thames Hospital Board a sketch plan of an isolation block to accommodate twelve patients was received from the Health Department. The block wap divided into two wards, making provision for male and female patients, and contained two 2-bed and 8 single-bed wards. The estimated cost was £6844, but if the board considered the building too large two single rooms could be removed, which would reduce the amount to an estimated cost of £6057. Mr j'Janby said that the position was becoming urgent, and he asked if something - of a cheaper nature could not be utilised. He favoured a disused building at the rear of the maternity annexe being fitted up temporarily. It was. not possible to cope with any epidemic with the present accommodation available. The fact tnat infectious cases were being treated in the main institution was unsatisfactory, and could not possibly go on.

The chairman said that the board was faced with a serious difficulty, and it was not in a position to meet an expenditure of £7OOO. He believed that a skeleton building could be prowould suffice for the time being. The vided at a cost of about £l2OO that building mentioned by Mr Danby wasunsuitablo for fitting up as an isolation ward. Mr Brenan said .that no doubt the ward was necessary, but the expenditure was enormous. Mr Kennedy suggested that if the worst came to the worst the maternity annexe could be used as an isolation block. Mr Brenan favoured this suggestion. The chairman pointed out that the building would have to be moved back 40ft, and it could not be used again as a maternity annexe. Mr Brenan stressed the need for an isolation ward, but thought that a large amount of capital would lie idle for the greater portion of the year. Mr Miiler thought that the prepent sickness could not be termed abnormal, and no definite epidemic had arrived. He was of the opinion that the steady increase in the number oC par tients was a natural sequence, and was general throughout New Zealand. It was decided to reply to the department stating that the project was too On the motion of Mr Robinson, seconded by Mr Kennedy, the matter was referred to the chairman and secretary for the purpose of ascertaining particulars of isolation blocks from other hospital boards.