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Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 July 1940, Page 2

(From the Official vVar CoiTespbitden; attached to the New Zealand Forces in Great Britain). LONDON, June 29. Mild sickness cases today entered the first New Zealand General Hospital which is to be our base hospital in England. It is delightfully situated in a woodland area in a southern county, which has been proved one of the healthiest in the United Kingdom. The buildings and equipment are new, the hospital have been erected and furnished by the British Government. The buildings consist of 14 separate single story blocks, each 145 feet by 24 feet. All are connected by covered outdoor passage-ways. There are nine blocks of wards, each having 36 beds and capable of accommodating 42, with service rooms attached. The other blocks are used for staff duty purposes, kitchen, and staff diningrooms. Fire resisting materials have bebn used throughout. The wards are heated by coke stoves. Each ward has its own water installation. The . theatre is centrally heated and is up-to-date in every way. The medical and nursing staff should be completely installed by the middle of next week. The kitchen contains the latest appliances for cooking and baking, and for the preparation and storage of food. The equipment throughout the establishment is up-to-date and complete to the last detail. Colonel A. C. McKillop is officer commanding. Lieutenant-Colonel T. D. M. Stout is director of the surgical division, and Lieutenant-Colonel J. R. Boyd director of the medical division. Major L. J. Hunter is registrar, and there are 15 other officers. Sister E. Mackay is matron, and there are 33 nurses and two masseuses, all of whom were sisters when engaged in civil nursing in New Zealand, but in the Armj r Nursing Service the majority have the lower rank of staff nurse.