CONSUMPTIVE TREATMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 67, 19 March 1919, Page 7

CONSUMPTIVE TREATMENT.

HOME REQUIRED. HOSPITAL BOARD DECISION, STEPS TO SECURE SITE. The question of the immediate establishment of a tubercular home in the Auckland Hospital district was diecuseed by the Hospital Board last night. The matter came forward in a notice of motion given by Dr. Florence Keller, in which the board was urged to take immediate etepa towards the establishment of such an institution. Dr. Keller eaid that she felt that all the members were as much impressed as she was as to the necessity of such a move. A motion such as she had moved had been on the minutes for the past four years. In order to facilitate that, she suggested the board should secure an option over several sites with a view to eventually purchasing the one most suitable. The Health Department could be invited to inspect them. She had approached tho Mayor on the matter, and was very favourably received. It was an urgent necessity, as soldiers would be returning who would require attention at such an establishment. It no action were taken in the matter it would be like "beating the air," as last year alone 29!) new cases were reported to the authorities, and 74 last month.

Mr. Hosking, in seconding, eaid that they were not carrying out the functions of a hospital board in confining affected eases in the Costley area.

Mr. Coyle supported, and said that something definite should be done. The board would only be concerned in the question of a site.

Mr. Nerheny hoped that when selecting a site members would give due consideration to relatives of the affected ones, and see that it was hand}' so that they could visit them.

Mr. Harbutt said that there were quite a number of suitable sites around Auckland.

Mr. Mackay urged the board to take into consideration the establishment of tubercular dispensaries, which had given good results in America. A <>reat advantage about them was that the patients could be treated without having to leave their homes.

Mr. Wallace (chairman), supported the motion. He said that the board w;ie not altogether to blame that some definite action had not already been taken. The Government were to blame. They had agreed to take all consumptive patients from the district into the Cambridge Sanatorium, the charge to be at the rate oi £1 per week. This sum the Government raised to 30/, without consulting the board. With the institution full of returned soldiers, no patients could be admitted from this district. The motion was carried unanimously. In replying to a question, the chairman gave hie assurance that no time would be lost in securing a site.