TE WAIKATO SANATORIUM.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 134, 8 June 1910, Page 8

TE WAIKATO SANATORIUM.

THE PATIENTS' COMPLAIN.

(From Crur Own Correspondent)

CAMBRIDGE, Tuesday.

A number of patients of the above sanatorium, said to be 17, have signed a complaint that the retrenchment policy of the Government had greatly crippled the staff of that institution, rendenng it "very inadequate to cope with the number'of cases at present being treated, amounting to about 40. ,, Objection is also taken to the new rules, which the patients nave been asked to sign. These rules set forth that unless otherwise decided by the medical superintendent, patients must (a) keep their shelters clean and tidy, remove all slops therefrom, clean all utensils used, polish all metal and brass work, and clean windows; (b) assist in the. conveyance of food, and the preparation of the tables for meals; (c) wash up, and return to their proper places, all crockery and cutlery used at the preceding meal, each patient being specially responsible for the cleansing of the articles he has used; I (d) take their sputum-flasks to the destructor, empty their contents, carefully cleanse flasks and leave them to be boiled, and take clean ones back to their shelters; (c) perform any other household duties that may be required. The complainants say "all are only too willing to perform any outdoor work which may be

required, but no right-thinking person can convince us that indoor work is beneficial to consumptives. Even the night nurse of the colony of 20 patients has been dispensed with, which means that the sister in charge, after 10 hours' day duty, is expected to answer any night calls. We might mention that under the retrenchment scheme all nurses work 10 hours per day, and their duties are not by any means light. The patients here at present are aware that by not agreeing to the new conditions they render themselves liable to certain dismissal, but, nevertheless, we are all prepared to leave rather than cure ourselves under the new hygienic treatment. We -would caution any intending applicant for the cure to very carefully consider the new roles. Our purpose is served if it only showe the public how the present Government us fighting the dreaded disease, ■consumption.* 5 r