WAIMARINO HOSPITAL REPORT

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 2, Issue 16, 18 September 1984, Page 1

WAIMARINO HOSPITAL REPORT

Wanganui Hospital Board's Works and Planning Committee held their monthly meeting at Waimarino Hospital in Raetihi last Thursday. Apologies were received from Board Chairman, Mrs Betty Bourke and Chief Executive, Mr Jon Boyack. At the meeting, most of the discussions related to a review of maintenance requirements at Waimarino Hospital as well as changes to some capital proposals requiring additional expenditure. Mrs Dorothy Scarrow, local board member was in attendance along with Principal Nurse, Mrs Betty Longcroft. The first point on the agenda involved the accommodation situation. Currently, Wanganui Hospital Board owns two properties in Raetihi, a cottage on the hospital gounds and a house nearby, as well as a nurses' home at the front of the hospital. At the present time the nurses' home is vacant but in the winter, particularly at weekends, rooms are let out to skiers, the administration of which is operated by AHI in Ohakune. The home is also used for ante-natal classes and a natural family planning clinic. « After much discussion as well as inspection of the home, the Committee moved that they would recommend to the Executive that: the off-site property should be sold; the cottage be offered for sale and removal, and

that the nurses' home be converted into perhaps three or four self-contained wellappointed flats for hospital staff. Although they may not be used immediately, Chief Nurse Mrs Smail said that the accommodation was an important means of recruiting nursing staff, particularly midwives which Waimarino Hospital has . a severe shortage of presently. In addition, she said that Principal Nurse, Mrs Longcroft would not be at the hospital forever and that a replacement should have the opportunity of using staff accommodation. The committee also inspected the maternity unit and were shown plans of a proposed reorganisation in the obstetric area. These changes would see the mothers' dayroom trans - ferred down to what is presently the nursery. This room could then be used for ante-natal classes which are held every Wednesday morning. An office would be built adjacent to the dayroom for the staff nurse with the new nursery next to that. Such alterations would certainly be beneficial to both mothers and staff and the cost to the Board would be reasonable. According to the Chief Engineer, Barry Hobson, alterations would be in the order of $12,000 to $14,000. Committee accepted the plans in principle although no definite decision can be made until the Obstetric Review Committee's pro-

posals are finalised. In that report, it was recommended that Waimarino Hospital's maternity unit cut their bed numbers from four to three. Other points discussed including roofing of the hospital and nurses' home which the Chief Engineer recommended should be refurbished with a special coating. The cost of this would be approximately $29,000 compared with an approximate cost of $59,000 to replace the roof completely. Committee also agreed with Mr Hobson's recommendations concerning the painting of the exterior of the hospital at an estimated cost of $18,000 and rewiring work which would cost in the vicinity of $10,000. In addition, the Works and Planning Committee were told that a dishwasher has been purchased and is now situated in the small kitchen adjacent to the main kitchen. Upgrading of the mortuary was also discussed and committee recommended that the changes, which include relocation of the body slab to allow freer trolley movement, be approved. Chairman, Mr V.E. Goodman stressed that the decisions made by his committee regarding maintenance and capital work at Waimarino Hospital, are all subject to the Finance Committee's approval. The rest of the meeting was closed to both public and press.