WAR HOSPITALS

Press, Volume L, Issue 15137, 28 November 1914, Page 3

WAR HOSPITALS

DP,. VALINTINE IN ENGLAND

IFKOM Ot'R OWN COUUKSrON'DENT.) LONDON, Octobor 1-t. Dr. Valintino. Chief Health Officer tor New Zcsiland. is afc present paying a series of visits to the great hospitals "which ar o engaged in looking after the wounded. He first went to the boutliorn General Baeo Hospital, trhere ho was met by Colonel Bush", the officer m command, and conducted °f or *J* stituto. Be was particularly .concerned w : ith the general «onstriictaon. of tne hosr>ital and its eoonomics. This-week Dr.. Valintine has acoompaniod the High Commissioner on a vi«it to Bristol, whore ho visited the Bristol Hoyal ' Infirmary, tho ***** Southern General Base Hospital, and the newly-equipped and occupied mead Hospital. Sneakuiff to a Bristol reporter, Dr. A f alintine Raid:— "I was very much impressed with the excellent provision made at the »"- out--em Base Hospital for the reception of British wounded, and was «"»*«; struck when I came across Tommies eltinK pheasant! The men expressed thcmiclvee as bein K very there. The Hoyal Edward Memorial Block trhicli, I tinderetand, cost £70 000 is beautifully conceived and'constructed, and the money ficems to have been welt spent." A point which appealed to Dr.. valmtino was the very low cost at which the hospital is run—£63 per bed per annum. "Unfortunately, in New Zealand." he said, "we cannot administer hosoitals at so low a rate." Dt. Valintino was taken by motor, with Mr Mackenzie, across the Downs to Routhmead Hospital, which has been built at a cosh of £50.000, and will accommodate 500 patients—or. in other words, at a cost per bed of £100. I have never experienced." he.exclaimed, "the inspection of «nch excellent aooomn'odation at, so low a cost ver bed, and 1 foe! confident that the-ratepay-ers of Bristol have vorv yood value ior their money in that institution. "It. was an eyninnle to mc of the erection of a hosrtital at a minimup? nf c-ost with a maximum of accommodaj tion. The wards , strunk mc as being j exoeivfcioiinllv well designed and provided, nnd I was more than delich+od with the balcony for the open-air treatment of patients— a provision not often mot with in hosnifals I have previously in the Un'+.ed Kinpdom. We in New Zealand make a irront feature of this balcoTiv rvcommoflation. as yon know. The maternity wards at Southmea't j>re. +00, very "xcellentiv arranped. Of the Tonndrv. I r-arinot siyjak too hirrbly. I The hosT»j+ftl (Tonernllv is a maenificont i on?, delightfuliv fi'iint-ed. and in tbo ' nirr-iimstances could not be improved iupon. J "'ln N>w Zivilant) all brwrvitn-ls aro : r.unnorted by the rates. Government y •»/? •p'"" r nents by patien+R. About one-tifth of f.lio total evpfnVlilure in ronnexioti w'r't the institutions is met by pavmenfs by pntients. Yon c cc, we have no nauporism. Onr total on what we call J , io«'>r Inw rp'iof. JWJi ;-ri r^r arl< j ontI (low. is only about £&1,000 per .annum."