ESSENTIAL WORK

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 451, 5 June 1937, Page 5

ESSENTIAL WORK

MODERNISING HOSPITAL

BUILDING ENLARGEMENTS Installation Of New Heating System The necessity for bringing th® Stratford Hospital buildings and appointments up to date wa® stressed at a special meeting of the Board this morning when it was decided to proceed with the installation of a: new heating system and also to obtain an architect’s report on the renovation and enlargement of the operating theatre block and the kitchen block. ”11 seems desiruble that 'the Board should define a policy, yet on the other hand there is apprehension among the ratepayers in regard <o the increasing cot’t,” said Mr J. Law. ’’’l am sure," Mr Law continued, “that the Bdard is reluctant to increase the cost to the ratepayers, but the issue must be faced and the first consideration is the installation of an up-to-date heating system."

The chairman, Mr T. R. Anderson, said that during the chairmanship Of Mr W. L. Kennedy the Board had Jaid down a policy of spending £BOOO over five years. Laundry Plant. • The most urgent mattes’ whs the modernising of the lauti'dry, said Mr Moss. Thb matron had pointed l out that without* a laundry the hospital could not function. The. plant would have to be brought up to date or an extrla laundress employed. Mr H. J. Marchant said that the block and the operating theatre had also claims to urgency. Every item would have to be gone into before a decision was reached. The Board had to face the fact that tne • dns'titution had to be brought up to , Slate or it would steadily lose efficiency. : Mr Anderson said that all units hlad served the hospital when there were 20 per cemt. more patients. He was' of the opinion that the Board should first deal with the heating and the laundry.

Temperatures of Wards. Mr Moss said that the theatre block and kitchen block could be modernised. If the Board was considering raising a loan of £3500 for the laundry and heating it might las well raise the amount to £5OOO and do the whole job. The hospital would then be well equipped for ten years at least. A loan of £3oCO would cost £245 per annum, and the cost of ccLl with a new heating system would be £474 per annum, as against £BOO as at present. He considered that thermometers should have been placed in the hospitul wards and the temperatures taken. Mr G. P. Harkness said that past Boards had been accused of doing things in a patch-work way. It wbuld be ,a great mistake to spend money on temporary work. Mr Moss said that a new operating block would cost £5OOO, and he could see no reason to pull down good bricks and mortar. It would be extravagant to build new blocks. Under the present conditions the hospital required an hours notice for an operation. The £3OO at present on the estimates would not do more than renovate the theatre. It was resolved that the Board’s architects be instructed to confer with the Medical Superintendent and the Matron, and with the chairman and Mr Moss, in reference to tho renovation and enlargement of the operating block and kitchen block. “Until we get the architect’s report we cannot go on with the heating question," Mr Anderson remarked-. Mr Moss: It we are all decided that the work Was got to be done why not decide to go on with it? On the motion of Mr Moss, the Board adopted the report of the I Health Department's technical advis- | er, Mr H. Johnson, on the heating | system, and it was resolved that the | work be done by way of loan. | Mr Johnson is to be asked to pro- : ceed* with the plans and spectficaj tions. Present at the meeting were:— Messrs T- R. Anderton (chulrman), M. Gernhoefer, J. Law, N. H. Moss. G. P. Harkness. H. J. Marchlant, Mrs M. T. Phillips, and Mrs D. Shannon.