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has been without for certainly 18 years. More small wards are also required for observation purposes,
Should it be that the Council deems it inexpedient to build these extensions, a remedy is to be found
by giving up the S. and W. blocks used by the domestic staff at present, and renovating these for
occupation by patients, the purpose for which they were originally built. Such an arrangement
would relieve the congestion of the larger wards and the observation wards ; it would entail, however,
the building of additional staff quarters.
Passing now to the question of staff accommodation, here again a shortage exists. There
never has been, as a matter of fact, anything but an insufficiency ever since the hospital was extended
in 1903. In that year an annexe with 25 beds for nurses was built certainly, but a house then used
for the accommodation of nurses in Bruce Road close at hand was given up, and it was in that year
that S. Ward block was first used for their accommodation. In 1905 I reported that the nursing
staff accommodation was inadequate and as a consequence the Council added another wing to the
ward block just mentioned, which certainly improved matters, though it by no means relieved the
situation. Since that date, even admitting that a further 16 beds in W. block have been added
for the use of staff, at the expense of the ward accommodation for patients, and that a few beds for
staff have also been made in odd corners of the hospital, the accommodation for nurses, just as it
is for staff, is a long way short of actual requirements. As I have already mentioned, it is not possible
to house all the nurses the hospital requires, and 51 out of 58 is all that there is accommodation for.
Equally well does all that I have said apply to the question of mess room and recreation room
accommodation for the nurses. The mess rooms and recreation rooms at the present time are quite
inadequate. In extent they are just exactly what they were in 1894, when the staff was one-third
of its present day number. The mess room measures 22 ft. by 17 ft. and the recreation 29 ft. by
16 ft. 6 in. ; both of them frequently called upon to accommodate over 30 nurses at one time.
As regards the domestic staff accommodation, quite 50 per cent, of them live outside in their
homes in the district, but for the remainder there is practically no real staff quarters of a recognised
kind. They are housed in the iron and wood blocks already referred to, which are by design unfitted
for the purpose of mess room and recreation rooms just as they are as bedrooms.
Altogether, there is, I am afraid, no remedy but to build more accommodation for the staff,
both nursing and domestic. It is unfortunate that the Council at such a time should have to meet
this extra outlay; it is all because Councils in the past have refused to face the actual facts, that
these force themselves to the front now and call for your earliest attention. Within two years the
hospital admissions have trebled in size ; it is reasonable to expect that the number of staff and the
accommodation for them to be provided shall be increased in proportion. Otherwise, I submit with
all due respect, the Council will continue to impose the hardships to which I have already drawn
attention.
Small Pox Accommodation.
During the year frequent reference has been made to the question of the Small Pox accommodation.
Nothing in the shape of a Small Pox hospital exists, other than the burnt down remains
of Kingsbury hospital, which previously was used for the purpose, but which I understand the Council
no longer considers suitable for the purpose.
Finally, I would take this opportunity of thanking my colleague, Dr. McKenzie, and the entire
Nursing, Domestic and Hospital Staff generally, for their loyal support during a year of strenuous
work under the most difficult conditions.
I am, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
W. J. J. STEWART,
June 8th, 1921. Medical Superintendent.