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PART IV.—HOSPITALS. I have the honour to submit the annual report of the Hospital Division. General. The vacancy caused by the death of Mr. C. S. Allan has been filled by the appointment of Mr. G. Reid as Technical Inspector. Owing to the increased building operations of various hospitals the Technical Branch has been very busy, and until the second Inspector was appointed it was quite impossible to keep pace with the work. Gradually these arrears have been worked off, but the amount of office and inspection work involved in the discharge of their duties keeps these two officers more than fully occupied. Hospital Inspections. The work of inspection of hospitals is done in conjunction with the nursing division and a scheme of co-operation has now been adopted whereby overlapping is reduced to a minimum. A commencement was made with furnishing a detailed report on every hospital, and while this may take several years to complete, a very creditable start has been made by the various officers concerned. Once a hospital has been reported on in detail, subsequent Inspectors note any alterations and additions to the basic report. It is pleasing to note that medical superintendents, matrons, and other executive officers of the Hospital Boards extend to us a full measure of co-operation during our visits of inspection. During the year two official inquiries were held —one conducted by yourself at Riverton, and the second conducted by the Secretary of the Department and myself at Greymouth. Building Operations. There has been considerable building activity, and the following are the principal works either jn hand or completed during the year: — (1) Southland Hospital Board. —Continued progress has been made with the new general hospital at Kew, and the building should be ready for occupation next year. (2) Wallace and Fiord Hospital Board. —A commencement was made to install in Riverton Hospital a heating and steam plant. (3) South Otago Hospital Board. —A contract to provide quarters for the Resident Medical Officer has been let. (4) Otago Hospital Board. —(a) A contract for the new administration building was let, and good progress has been made with the work. (b) Authority to purchase the site for the new obstetric hospital was issued, and the plans for the building are nearing completion. (5) Westland Hospital Board.—{a) New X-ray room was erected. (6) Consideration is at present being given to the question of additions to this hospital, which for some months has been greatly overcrowded both as regards accommodation for patients and nurses. (6) Grey Hospital Board.—Plans are practically complete for the addition of a two-story block at the Greymouth Hospital, with the necessary additions to the Nurses' Home. (7) Nelson Hospital Board. —Consent has been issued for the erection of additional accommodation for nurses. (8) Wellington Hospital Board. —(a) Plans for additions and alterations to the Ophthalmic Ward are now completed, (b) Extensive repairs and renovations to the Fever Hospital and the Nurses' Home connected therewith have been completed, and the building is once again in occupation. (9) Palmerston North Hospital Board.—Plans for the erection of a new administration block at the general hospital and additions to the Awapuni Home are now completed, and the work should be commenced in the near furure. (10) Wanganui Hospital Board.—A new annex for the accommodation of patients suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis has been completed. In order to house the extra nursing staff required additions have been made to the Nurses' Home. (11) Patea Hospital Board.—Alterations and additions have been made to the isolation quarters in order to make them suitable for maternity patients, and in order to provide more room for nurses. Accommodation for domestic staff has been added to the kitchen block. (12) Taranaki Hospital Board.—(a) The theatre block has been remodelled and modernized. (b) The kitchen block has also had extensive alterations, with an entire remodelling, and fitted with modern refrigeration plant,

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