View report page

22
The ward block is used entirely for Scarlet Fever cases,
and consists of two wards, one 36ft. by 26ft. and 13ft. in
height, for women and children, and the other 26ft. by 24ft.
and 13ft. in height, for men, with a nurses' duty room
between them, arranged so that the nurse-in-charge can look
through a small fixed window into each ward. The male
ward vras designed to accommodate four beds and one cot,
and the female ward six beds and one cot. But the air and
floor space allowed was so ample that I find I can put up several
extra beds and cots in each ward and still maintain sufficient
air space. Lavatory and w.c. accommodation are provided at
the ends of each ward, accessible from the ward only, but
provided with a cross ventilation lobby.
The wards are lighted and ventilated by large windows
reaching to the ceiling on each side of the wards, and
provided with fanlights which open inwards. Thorough cross
ventilation is thus obtained. The wards are heated by
special stoves in the centre of each, having downward flues
carried under the floors to external chimney shafts attached
to the building.
The floors are of two kinds, that of one ward consisting
of Terazzo, and the other of pitch-pine blocks. The walls are
distempered with Duresco, with a dado of oil paint.
There is also in this block a store cupboard for linen,
bedding, etc., and a bath room, arranged with a door leading
outside, enabling it to be used as a discharging room. The
bath is a portable one, and mounted on rubber wheels.
The nurses' duty room is fixed with a kitchen stove with
hot water apparatus, a sink, small larder, large cupboard,
kitchen dresser, medicine cupboard, and a telephone
communicating with the administration block.
The Isolation Block is used for Diphtheria and Typhoid
Fever, and consists of two wards, or half a block ; the other
half to be completed when more accommodation is required.
Each ward is 24ft. by 18ft. and 13ft. in height, and accommodates
three beds and a cot in each ward. A duty room
similar to that of the ward block is provided between the
wards. The sanitary accommodation is outside and separate
from the block, but is under a verandah which runs along one
side of the block. The doors of the wards and duty rooms
open on to verandah only. These wards are heated by open
regenerating grates, and lighted and ventilated by windows
similar to those of the ward block.