B.m.a.—northern Ireland Branch North-east Ulster Division

been arranged in such a way that it can be linked up with the private ror,ms to suit patients, who, subject to medical approval, desire to keep in touch .tlh their ordinary affairs. The block is built on a steel-work construction, and it is fire-pr,oof throughout. It is not intended that this newv block should compete wvith private nursing homes. A definite limit will be put on the type of patients admitted, and they will be chargecl only the actual cost of maintenance, but the patients w!ill be responsible for the payment of the attending surgeons and physiciails. The block is (lcsigned to imieet the needs of those imiddle-class people who, ordinarily, would not be able to enter private nursing homes oni account of the cost, btut who at the same timne are beyond the scope of the ordinary wards of the voluntary hospital, which caters f,or the very poor. This relatively small beginning in a paying-block shouldlfill a long-felt want in Belfast an(l its surrotndincg district, an(l it is hoped that ere loIng it w\ill be extended to such dimensions as to be in keeping wvith the population of the area which it serves.