INFECTIOUS DISEASES HOSPITAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 94, 22 April 1902, Page 3

INFECTIOUS DISEASES HOSPITAL.

CONFERENCE OF LOCAL BODIES.

A conference of representatives of various local bodies was held last evening in the City Council Chambers for the purpose of considering1 the question of erecting a hospital for the treatment of infectious .diseases. There were present the jlayor of Auckland (Mr A. Kidd), Mr j{ t T. Warnock (Mayor of Grey Lvnn) Mr Baildon (Arch Hill), Mr Bagley (Mt. Roskill), Mr G. A. Cole (Eden Terrace), and Dr. Makgill (District Health Officer). Letters were read from Eden Terrace and Mt- Albert Eoad Boards stating steps had been taken with a view to better sanitation and destruction of rats. The Birkenhead Council wrote stating that In view of their vigorous efforts to secure proper sanitati-'- they did niot deem it advisable to join with other local bodies in employing a sanitary officer. The Chairman (Mr Kidd) explained there was nothing- fresh to lay before the conference, but it was well for them to meet and discuss matters, as they did not know when urgent need might arise in any district for a contact hospital. He would like guo-o-estions as to suitable site for a contact hospital. The Council had asked the Government to choose a site. There was great agitation against re-erecting the contact hospital in the Domain. To put a. permanent hospital there was out of the question. It was quite possible for any district to have a case, and joint action would mean greater security all round.

Mr Bagley said he thought the members of Mt. Eoskill Board would approve the idea of a joint sanitary officer being appointed. Dr. Makgill said the question of a contact hospital was really a question of an infectious disease hospital generally. They required a pla-ce where all infectious diseases could be treated as well as plague and small-pox, if they should have the misfortune to have such cases. If they got attached to an infectious disease hospital a site in which temporary buildings could be put up, if there was a case of plague or smallpox, the buildings could be destroyed when done with. The treatment of infectious diseases was, under the Health Act, laid upon the shoulders of local bodies, and each could be called upon to provide an institution for that purpose. The Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was rJot compelled to provide for such cases. That being ,so, the question arose as to what should be clone. There were 22 local bodies in the County of Eden, and 26 in Manukau, and each could, under the Act, be compelled to erect an infectious diseases hosm'tal. That showed the need for conjoint action. It might be possible to get the Hospital Board to do work for the local bodies. . The question of a site might as well be considered. It would require to be fairly convenient to the centre of population, and yet not near enough to be a menace to health. It was requisite such a site should be suitable for the treatment, say, of small-pox, as that disease was a danger to 'persons residing within a radius of a quarter of a mile of the hospital. The position chosen should therefore be removed from centres of population. The real thing was to get together all the local bodies concerned, so that one institution might be erected for the whole district, as it would be absurd to have a number of hospitals. It was most undesirable to have an infectious disease hospital in the Domain, or near the general hospital at all. The site selected would require to be convenient to the most populous part of the district.

Mr Warnock asked if such a hospital was erected, would the doctors be confined to those patients or allowed to continue visiting- all round the city? He considered it a pity this should be thrown upon local bodies when there was a Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. He thoug-ht the infectious diseases hospital should be built and maintained on. the same system as the present one. Mr Bag-ley .said if they had a case of infectious disease in their district where was it to be taken if the Hospital Board need not provide for it? The small bodies could not each pro,v.i<le a hospital. Mr Bayldon sug-g-ested that a circular should be sent to all local bodies asking them if they were willing- to contribute towards building- an infectious diseases hospital. If they would not do so, then the Government should compel all to join in building and maintaining such an institution-

Dr. MakgMll said the legal position was that the Hospital Board could refuse to accept such, cases of infectious diseases, but he did not think tfhe Board would do that suddenly. ,It was possible for the Government to declare a district for such a purpose, which would combine a number of districts.

The chairman said it did seem a pity that the Health Act had not the power given it to provide an infectious disease hospital, as that body possessed all the requisite machinery to run such an institution. He thought 'they should urge upon the Government to bring- this matter also un3er the care of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board.

. Dr. Makgill said the present system of treating infectious diseases at the general hospital was to be deprecated in the interest of the public themselves. If a case of smallpox occurred a doctor would require to be isolated, but that would not be necessary in cases of mild or infectious diseases. He thought it would fee desirable to have the infectious diseases hospital under the charge of the Hospital and Charitable Aid ■Board. The present infectious disuses hospital up at, the general hosipital was most unsuitable.

Mr Cole thought the matter should °c referred back to the Government, so as to have it relegated to the fl °spital and Charitable Aid Boards « deal with.

Mr Bagley suggested members of

the medical, profession ajid also of the Charitable Aid Board should be invited ,to join the conference. The chairman said population was growing, and cases of infectious diseases required to be dealt " with by the Hospital Board. No particular borough would grapple with such a problem, and it should be dealt with by a Board with power to compel all local bodies to pay their quota- He moved, " That this conference of local bodies. requests that the Government amend the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Act of 1885 and the Public Health Act of 1900, so that the Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards have control of all cases of infectious disease." The Mayor said that would enable the Board to fully provide funds by levying upon all bodies, and deal with the question thoroughly. Then they could have one central hospital to deal with all infectious diseases.

Mr Warnock second the motion, which was agreed to unanimously, and the conference adjourned for one month.