H.—3l.

PART IV.—HOSPITALS.

I have to submit the annual report of the Division of Hospitals for the year ended 31st March, 1938. Hospital Building Activities. As in previous years, the Division has been much occupied with building proposals for the various Hospital Boards. Southland Hospital Board. —The laundry at this hospital still awaits the machinery, hut this will be installed during the forthcoming year. Some discussion has taken place regarding the renovation of the tuberculosis annexe, but no decision has yet been made by the Board. At Gore Hospital a report has been provided on the matter of erecting a Children's Ward. South Otago Hospital Board. —A report on the shortage of accommodation both for patients and nurses has been submitted to the Board. Plans and specifications for the new tuberculosis annexe were completed and a contract has been let. Vincent Hospital Board. —Considerable discussion of the building proposals at Dunstan and Cromwell Hospital has taken place. The architect has now in hand the preparation of final plans and specifications. At Cromwell it is proposed to build a new hospital and use the present hospital as a Nurses' Home. Maniototo Hospital Board. —Plans and specifications in connection with the extension to the laundry and the addition of a sun-porch were completed, and the work is now in hand. Waitaki Hospital Board. —A report on the necessary ward and Nurses' Home additions was furnished to the Board, and a tentative " lay-out " is almost ready for submission to the Board. A scheme of laundry extension has to be prepared, and various matters relative to the heating service have received attention. South Canterbury Hospital Board. —Good progress is being made with the erection of the new ward block, and the plans and specifications for the laundry and boiler-house were completed. At Waimate the erection of the new theatre block is proceeding. North Canterbury Hospital Board. —The Board has acquired a site at the foot of the Cashmere Hills for the new hospital to replace the Chalmers Wards at the main hospital. It is anticipated that the Board will develop further next year the proposals for the alterations at Christchurch Hospital. For Kaikoura Hospital a report containing recommendations for future development was submitted to the Board. These were adopted by the Board and the plans in connection with the addition to the main building are being prepared by the architects. Westland Hospital Board. —Contracts for the erection of a children's ward and a new theatre block have been arranged. The work also includes improvements to two of the existing wards. The work should be completed during the next year. Grey Hospital Board. —The additions to the Nurses' Home and new ward block are being done. The Board also has proposals for the erection of a tuberculosis annexe. The " Rewa " Maternity Hospital was damaged by a slip and had to be vacated. Temporary accommodation for maternity patients is provided by using the Hannan Ward at the main hospital. Butter Hospital Board. —The preliminary plans for the new out-patient block and the new theatre have been discussed with the Board's architect, who is now proceeding with final plans and specifications. Nelson Hospital Board. —During the year several discussions were held with the Board's architects concerning the proposed extensions to the Nelson Hospital. The general lay-out was agreed upon, and this was adopted by the Board. Subsequent decisions, however, make it necessary to reconsider the whole question. Marlborough Hospital Board. —Sketch plans for additional accommodation for both nursing and domestic staff have been under review. The Board also proposes some minor alterations to the Blenheim Hospital. Wellington Hospital Board. - Revised estimates for the proposed work were submitted by the Board's architects. This necessitated the Board making application to raise a supplementary loan. Owing, however, to the objections raised by the local contributory authorities, the whole question of the provision of hospital accommodation in the Board's area has been referred to a Royal Commission. In the meantime all discussions are suspended pending the receipt of the Commission's report. Wairarapa Hospital Board. —Masterton Hospital: The new Nurses' Home and the new theatre block have been completed. It was decided to add another story to the new home. Plans for the administration block and house surgeons' quarters are at present under consideration. Greytown Hospital: The additions to the accommodation for old people have been completed and are in use, thus enabling the general hospital wards to be reopened. Dannevirke Hospital Board. —The plans and specifications for the additions at this hospital were completed, and a contract for the work has been let. Waipawa Hospital Board. —Waipukurau Hospital : A report on the requirements for the accommodation of nurses and domestics was submitted to the Board, and preliminary plans have been discussed. Hawke's Bay Hospital Board. —Napier Hospital: The isolation block is nearing completion and will be in use next year. The following building proposals are under discussion : — (a) Additional accommodation for nurses.'; (b) New X-ray Department. (c) New children's ward. HftatWo Hospital: The new theatre block and out-patient department were completed.

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