OPOTIKI HOSPITAL

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 261, 20 November 1939, Page 2

OPOTIKI HOSPITAL

MATERNITY ANNEXE BSTLAIATEI) COST £20,000 .MUST HE PROCEEDED WITH The Director-General of Health, l)r. Al. H. Watt and the district medical officer, Dr. Davis, inspected the Opotiki Hospital on Saturday morning and made a most favourable report oil the institution and staff. They also, expressed pleasure at finding the interior of the nursing and elk)me,site quarters had recently been repapored and painted throughout. It was stated that the maternity annexe is to be proceeded with and and is net. merely a suggestion but a departmental instruction to the local heard. A departmental architect will visit Opotiki in the' near future t<f inspect the sites and choose the most suitable position, and will prepare plans ancl specifications. The annexe will serve both the European and ATaori population and) it will be necessary to erect, a 12-bed hospital, based on -•Uie. following figures at an average of 18 patients per annum to one bed:— Births in hospital district for 12 months 31/12/38: European 73. .Maoris 140.

It will be necessary to provide extra staff quarters to cope with the now staff to run the annexe and for some of the present staff at present occupying rooms in the isolation ward. The total cost of the building is estimated at £20.000. The borough and county ratepayers will be asked to pay £IO,OOO and the Government will pay £IO.OOO. The Government officers when asked how tin* shortage of building iron would affect the construction of the hospital additions, replied that tiles could be used. The estimate of £20.000 is on a lower basis than that allowed for the new maternity hospital to be built at Taupo.