BOPDHB History Whakatāne Hospital History Book | Page 46

Men’s Ward (Ward 2, 1923)
The Men’s Ward (Ward 2) was part of the original building and formed a wing running northwards
(parallel to, and east of Ward 1) from the main corridor. Extending at an angle from the north-eastern
side of this wing was an extension (since removed) which was the toilet block and the sluice room.
Between Wards 1 and 2 was a small area connected to the main corridor opposite the entrance to
the Kitchen area and referred to as ‘Middle Towers’. This was a semi-isolation block used for patients
with Tuberculosis. In 2011* the original Men’s Ward was still in use but providing services in Diabetes,
Dietetics, Oncology and Sleep Apnoea. On the completion of the Hospital Redevelopment, a small
part of this building will be one of the few still identifiable parts of the original 1923 construction. On
the site earlier occupied by ‘Middle Towers’ a new staff cafeteria was built in 1998.
*Subsequent references to 2011 are as at time of publication unless otherwise specified.

Women’s Ward (Ward 3, 1923, 1940)
The Women’s Ward was originally a much smaller wing close to the entrance of the Hospital and
extending north in the same way as Wards 1 and 2. This part of the hospital was incorporated into the
much larger wing when the new Women’s Ward was built in 1940. It is likely that initially, women’s
hospital needs were strongly oriented towards maternity services and some relief for the first Women’s
Ward would have resulted from the 1927 construction of the Maternity Annex. However a growing
population and a growth in other services for women meant that by 1940 there was a need to expand
the Women’s Ward. This building was similar in construction to Wards 1 and 2 and was built parallel
to them facing north/south onto Stewart Street. On the compl