No_4_November_and_December__1952 — Page 30

little chance of its being able to rehabilitate the buildings and equip- ment, let alone carry on.

Thus we had the two institutions, both damaged, one with a trust which it was impossible to operate effectively, and other which had been in a state of constant financial difficulty, The solution was to merge them into one combined hospital and nursing home. The War Memorial Nursing Home was accordingly sold to the Navy, but even so this did not provide enough funds to rehabilitate and re-establish the combined Matilda and War Memorial Hospital. That would not have been possible with- out the magnificent gift of eight lakhs from an anonymous donor, a gift which he made in memory of his friend Sir Vandeleur Grayburn. At the same time, the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank donated $260,000, also in memory of Sir Vandeleur Grayburn, to equip the new wing, to be called the Grayburn Wing.

These various donations added to the money already available in the first place, made it possible to re- novate and modernise the old hospital with the installation of lifts, and the fitting of baths, dispensaries, laboratory and an air-conditioned operating theatre. The maternity wing was also given similar treat- ment so that it now consists of eight rooms, most of them capable of being used as double rooms, each with bath, shower and verandah.

A new nurses' hostel with 12 single rooms and proper amenities was the first of the new buildings to be erected.

The Grayburn Wing is the

Architect's perspective drawing of the new wing,

second structure to be added to the original hospital.

This consists on the ground floor of the administrative rooms, matron's room, the boiler and air-conditioning room. On the first floor will be found the X-ray and physiotherapy departments, each with the most modern equipment. On the second and third floors are 20 private rooms and on the top floor the Medical Superintendent's flat. The hospital as a whole will have a minimum of 80 beds.

The private rooms have from their wide verandahs the full benefit of the astonishing view; they were furnished very pleasantly in shades of rose, blue or green by Mrs. M. Turner and Mrs. R. Johannessen.

Photograph showing main facade of the new building.

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In addition to having Radio Hong Kong or Rediffusion laid on from speakers or pillow phones, each room has a telephone which can be connected to the Matron's or the Sister's rooms or even to the public system. Each room has its own connecting bathroom. A luminous silent signal call system flashes from outside each ward. Either fixed or portable oil filled electrically operated radiators heat the wing throughout when necessary.

The air-conditioned X-ray depart- ment on the first floor includes among its modern and very complete equipment, a deep therapy X-Ray apparatus for the treatment of malignant growths such as cancer. Also on the first floor is the department of physiotherapy with its gymnasiums and complete electro and hydro therapy equip- ment, which includes Sitz baths, con- tinuous flow baths, needle showers and colon irrigation therapy apparatus.

The architect of this fine building was Mr. Eric B. Cumine, F.R.I.B.A., A.A. Dip., assisted by Mr. William Ling and Dr. Stanley Kwok, B. Arch. He also designed and carried out the alterations and additions previously mentioned. The Gen- eral contractor was Hsin Hing Construction Co., the plumbing work was carried out by Dodwell & Co., Ltd., and the electrical work by the Jardine Engineering Cor- poration Ltd.

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