"HOSPITAL" OR "BLOCK"?

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 222, 19 September 1929, Page 6

"HOSPITAL" OR "BLOCK"?

Notice has been given by a member of the Hospital Board of a motion that would, if passed, call a halt in the building of the infectious diseases hospital and require the Board to reconsider its policy, so that perhaps finality has not yet been reached in this controversy. Two points of particular importance emerge from Tuesday's discussion by the Board. One is tho evidence of difference of opinion among the doctors. The Board claims to have the whole of the honorary staff behind it, but the only doctor on the Board says that to his knowledge a majority of doctors oppose the placing of the infectious diseases hospital on tho proposed site, and included in this opposition are an appreciable number of the honorary staff. Is it not possible to settle the difference of opinion about opinion? What is the voting of the honorary, staff on the question, and what are the views of the 8.M.A.? Secondly, certain members of the Board on Tuesday fell back on the plea that this new building was not an infectious diseases hospital, but an isolation block. Dr. Gunson promptly pointed out that no one was opposed to an isolation block as the term was generally understood, but in such a block not more than twenty or thirty beds would be required. What the public will want to know is why, if only an isolation block is required, it should be so large and expensive.