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24
The new ward block must be completed and ready for occupation
before any alterations to the heating in the other ward blocks
can be commenced, otherwise the hospital's work would be seriously
disorganised. In a hospital which is working above it full capacity
it is obvious to close down a block containing 75 beds is impracticable.
On the other hand, the alterations to the old ward blocks
and the installation of new heating in those blocks cannot be
carried out if they are occupied.
The erection of the new maternity block at the same time is
necessary as the present maternity block is quite inadequate. In
addition, the erection of this block would release the present
maternity block for use for other purposes, and the excess :f
patients disturbed owing to the alterations to the old blocks an]
who cannot be accommodated in the new block would be accomnx
dated in the present maternity block.
Following on this primary group the new nurses' home will
be commenced as the previous group is nearing completion ami
before the erection of the second group. No new staff will be
immediately necessary during the erection of the new ward block,
nor for some time after that block is completed, as the total
accommodation of the hospital will not be materially increase:!.
When the maternity block is finished the accommodation of the
hospital will be increased by 40 beds. This will necessitate a small
preliminary increase m staff.
The second group of buildings to be erected, or to which structural
alterations will be made, are the old ward blocks, togethr
with the conversion of the day rooms into side wards, and the
building out of day room recesses, the children's block, the new
admission block, the waiting rooms for patients' relatives and the
adaptation of the present admission and X-Ray block as a specif
departments block. By the time that these latter works are nearin?
completion there should be available the full contemplated extra
accommodation in the new nurses' home.
Owing to the existing X-ray plant showing serious defects
and the probability that it requires extensive and costly repairs,
it has been decided to bring forward the erection of tlie new X-ray
department and installation of new plant, so that this will be p|!i
in hand shortly.