Tauranga Hospital celebrates 100th birthday

Tauranga Hospital celebrates a century today.

Bay of Plenty District Health Board chief executive Phil Cammish said the historic event was an opportunity to reflect on 100 years of innovation and excellence and look forward to a brighter future.

When the Inspector-General of Hospitals Dr T.H.A. Valintine officially opened Tauranga Hospital on 6 March 1914 it had a live-in staff of four, a cow for milk supply, and a horse for staff transport.

The 250m2 E-shaped building included two wards (a four-bed male ward and two-bed female ward) and sat in an acre of grounds. Since the 1950s, the hospital buildings have expanded from its original reputation as a "cottage hospital" to span 58,000m2 of floor space and sit on a 12 hectare campus with 349 beds and a 2240-strong staff.

"Today we have a modern hospital that can no longer be considered a cottage hospital," said Mr Cammish.

"I am often told by people how proud they are of Tauranga Hospital, and especially so when they drive past and compare today's modern buildings to the 1950's cottage hospital.

"Reflecting on the last 100 years has presented a timely opportunity for us to reconnect with the past, and discover stories about people who have worked at the hospital during that time," said Mr Cammish.

Minister of Health Tony Ryall will visit the hospital tomorrow and unveil a plaque in the Roof Garden commemorating the centenary. Mr Ryall will also take the opportunity to tour the hospital, including its Stroke Unit.

"If we need an example of advances in clinical care, this has to be a great one,'' Mr Cammish said.

"Not too many years ago a stroke usually condemned you to a life of perpetual disability but with today's advances in medication and clinical rehabilitation, many stroke patients have a much lessened degree of disability and in many cases continue with a life which is close to normal.''

Centennial Facts - Did You Know?
Tauranga Hospital first opened on 6 March 1914, and throughout its early years even maintained a small farm.
"...(it is recommended) that a water trough be provided in the middle paddock near the nurses' home; that the two pigs be sent to the bacon factory and that two others be purchased." Tauranga Hospital Board Visiting Committee, November 1927.
In 1915 it was agreed an isolation ward was required and a concert, given by the Commercial Travellers Association, was held to raise money for the build which was to cost 594 pounds (today $78,797).
At that time, the average occupied beds in Tauranga Hospital numbered 3.3, today it is 307. There was a live-in staff of four (today 2240 who do not live in) and the average duration of stay of patients was 17 days (today it is 4 days).
The total annual cost of running the hospital was 1132 ($17,511). In 2014 it is $250 million. The average cost of treating patients was eight shillings and three pence per day ($57). Today it is $4600.