Reading room refurbished

Health Sciences pro-vice-chancellor Prof Peter Crampton speaks at an event to mark the upgrading of the Lawrence Wright Reading Room in Dunedin Hospital yesterday.

The room opened 12 years ago and has been newly furnished to include a display of memorabilia.

Prof Lawrence, who died in 2011, was professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at Otago Medical School from 1951 to 1980.

Prof Crampton said Prof Lawrence made a "huge contribution'', notably for his interest in monitoring birthing outcomes, a practice which has become a central feature of medical research, but was less common in Prof Lawrence's time.

Prof Lawrence was also noted for the co-operative way in which he worked with obstetrician GPs.

Dunedin lawyer Bill Wright also spoke at the event, reflecting on his memories of his father.