Hastings District Libraries

Dr David Barry was the speaker at the Landmarks History Group meeting on Tuesday 9 November, with the topic "One Public Hospital for Hawke's Bay - A Tortuous Journey".

Hawke’s Bay District Health Board member, Dr David Barry outlined the history of how one regional hospital was formed in Hawke’s Bay. The process which resulted in the regional hospital for Hawke’s Bay had many influences on the decision.

A mixture of parochialism, civic pride, Hastings’ growth in population, central and local government influence and medical advances in intensive care, all make the ingredients for a fascinating talk by Dr Barry.

Dr Barry is well-qualified to talk on this subject having been first employed by the hospital as senior pediatrician in 1972, and was chairman of Hastings Memorial Hospital medical staff at the time of the initial moves toward establishing a single hospital.

Read more about the Landmarks History Group meetings...