THE WANGANUI HOSPITAL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10450, 21 September 1901, Page 1

THE WANGANUI HOSPITAL.

Quean Victorial Ward.

Why Such DalayP

Bearing on this question, His Worship the Mayor, in a letter to us, says : "It is now two 'months ago since I wroio tho following- letter to ths chairman an:l V-iembcrs of tic Wanganui Ho:- 1 -' 1 -.! Bnal, arid is it not an exlr.v ordl .< 7 nosHioa. that absohitely nothing <..i.. - ".'vac Uas been f*or-e in tlie direction rrt,"<-='f«l in r..y lsfter. Tlie Board aj. „;Uei a c'-r.:2.iiTt-;: to wait upon me (oat they have -i.es er done so) in connection with this (so we were told by the whole of the doctors and house surgeon "at the public meeting which was held) urgently-needed ward. I have had no end of work and trouble in collecting tll<? J6IOOO, and it is, I can aasure you, yery discouraging to me, and must be to all -concerned, to find that tho Board now takes 'so little "interest in the matter: — "July 19, 1901. — Chairman and Members, Wanganui Hospital Board. Gentlemen, — As a sum of at least .£IOOO is assured for erecting au additional ward to ' the Hospital, which sum together with the Government subsidy, will amount to at least £2,200, I shall feel obliged if you will favour me for the information, of the 1 subscribers what increased accommodation this is going tc supply, and I 'Aiould like if you would take the necessary steps to obtain the roquired information as early as possible and acquaint me. — Tours faithfully, A. HATBICK, Mayor." In his appeal, to the general public, and asking for personal interest _ and assistance "in obtaining subscriptions, Mr Hatrick, to show how urgent the necessity is for an additional ward, repeated the following opinions expressed by Ihe medical gentlemen ,who attended the public meeting recently held in Wanganui:— Dr Conriolly: "Practical experience has convinced me that the accommodation in the Hospital is insufficient, more especially on the women's side of the house. When I apply, on behalf of patients, for their ad--mission to the institution I am continually asked to wait a few days till someone has sufficiently recovered to bo discharged, and that is a state of affairs that should not exist." Dr Saunders: "I fully endorse all that has been said by Dr Connolly. For many months past ihe authorities have been compelled to refuse admissions, especially female patients." Dr Anderson (House Surgeon): "I quito concur with what has been already said by Drs Connolljj and Sjaundera. There are ,39 patients, in the Hospital, and but the .same number of beds." Dr Hatherly: "I endorse the views expressed by the previous speakers as to insufficiency of accommodation, and would point out that some times the waiting seriously prejudices the recovery of tho patients. The Wanganui Hospital is not only a town institution, but patients arc admitted from the Marton Borough," and all parts of the Bangitikei, Wanganui, and Waitotara Counties; the district extending as far back as - Hunteryillo, Mangaweka, Baetihi, and Pipiriki, and it is absolutely necessary that there should be plenty of accommodation for extreme cases." Dr Porritt: "My views are quite in accord with those expressed by the previous speakers. v More accommodation is absolutely necessary."