Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, JULY 16, 1918. THE DISTRICT HOSPITAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1853, 16 July 1918, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, JULY 16, 1918. THE DISTRICT HOSPITAL.

THE Palmerston District Hospital will, in the near future, become one of the hed equipped institutions in the Dominion. The plans for the building scheme to provide increased accommodation for patients and up-to-date appointments, lias hecn missed by the Minister, after many conferences and certain modifications. The architects, Messrs Crichton and McKay, appointed to prepare plans and supervise the work, were selected from a number of applicants by reason of their experience in this class of work. In order to provide ample provision for the buildings and to prevent congestion, several acres of land adjoining the hospital have been acquired. It is proposed to spend upwards, of £50,000 on the scheme, which may not be completed for several years, but a start will be made in the course of a few months on the most essential portions of the building. The Martin Memorial, towards which a generous public has contributed the sura of £2,000 (and which will carry a Government subsidy of £ for £), will include Xray and bacteriological departments. Mr MeHardie has also given a handsome donation of £I,OOO to make provision for the treatment of soldiers. Both the Martin

Memorial ami the Mdlardie gift will be inelufleil in 1 lie scheme. The X-ray equipment is now installed in temporary premises, and is under the supervision of Dr. Stowe, who has had special training in this particular, At last Board meeting it was decided to open an outpatients’ department for children to deal with complaints of the eye, ear, nose and throat. This department will he open on Saturday mornings. A maternity ward has been given a good deal of attention, and the question of a site has been dismissed at length by'the Board. There is a difference of opinion as to whether the site should ho at the hospital or elsewhere in the town. Now that the Board has acquired more laud it has been decided to erect the maternity hospital on portion of the recently-acquired land, which will he away from the main hospital buildings, with independent access. For administrative and other reasons it was decided to have the maternity ward on the hospital grounds. In our opinion the Board should not have touched the maternity hospital at all, hut should have urged the establishment of a Si. Helen’s Hospital, to he controlled and administered apart altogether from the Board. It is probable that this will eventuate. It only now remains for the Board to appoint a resident medical superintendent in order to complete the present equipment. The public throughout the Board’s district are to he congratulated upon the enthusiasm the Board had displayed in its efforts to safeguard the health of the people and to alleviate suffering.