BIG ADDITIONS TO WAIKATO HOSPITAL PLANNED IN HUGE BUILDING SCHEME

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21217, 13 September 1940, Page 7

BIG ADDITIONS TO WAIKATO HOSPITAL PLANNED IN HUGE BUILDING SCHEME

ALREADY one of the biggest in New Zealand, the Waikato Hospital will be considerably enlarged in the near future when the board s huge building scheme involving an expenditure of between £4OO 000 and £500,000 is completed. Portions of the programme are already in hand. The comprehensive nature of the Hamilton hospital, the principal institution of the Waikato Hospital Board, is illustrated in the aerial view above, but since the picture was taken the spacious new administrative block has been added. It is located in the space approximately in the centre of the picture. Plans have been approved for additions providing another 114 bedrooms to the nurses’ home which is seen in the top right of the illustration. The additions, estimated to cost £49.300, will be erected on the site at present occupied by the superintendent’s residence seen just behind the left wing of the nurses’ home in the picture. A new superintendent’s residence will involve an expenditure of about £2700. Another urgent matter is the erection of an isolation hospital containing 60 beds. The board’s architect is at present preparing plans for this block. Shortly, plans will be considered by the board for the erection ol an infirmary containing about 100 beds and nurses’ quarters which will cost probably about £IOO.OOO. Although no definite location has been chosen, it is likely, if the site is sufficiently large, that the building will be erected on the “Island.” an area approximately in the top left of the illustration. It would overlook the Waikato River and the Hamilton East Garden Suburb. Considering the present extent of the hospital, the additions will make a huge institution. At Rotorua between £150.000 and £200.000 will be expended on the erection of a new hospital which is considered one of the urgent features of tlie board's programme. The hospital will contain either 200 or 250 beds, according to the board's decision. Another urgent feature, for which plans have been approved by the board, is the erection of a hospital costing £7500 at Tnupo. Accommodation will be provided at Tc Kuiti for nurses at a cost of £2OOO while later a new maternity wing will be erected.at the same hospital. The majority of the board's huge scheme is being treated as urgent.