BOTTLE LAKE HOSPITAL.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15766, 6 December 1916, Page 4

BOTTLE LAKE HOSPITAL.

SUGGESTED NEW SITE.

A COMPREHENSIVE SCHEME

Information as to the progress of the enquiry ljeing made by Dre. Blaekmoro. Pearson, and Lester into matters connected with tho Infectious Diseases Hospital at Bottle Lake is not yet officially available, and no hint has been given as to the possible nature of the report -which the gentlemen mentioned have submitted, or will submit, to the Public Health Committee of the Hospital Board. Some suggestion has been 'made, it is understood, that- as soon a<; possible the Infectious Diseases Hospital is to be emptied of its patients fcnd that the site is to be cleaned up in preparation for the improvements that it j> anticipated the Board purpose effecting. .Speaking to a representative of "The Press" yesterday, Mr \Y. H. Cooper, a member of the Hospital Board, remarked that he had been giving the question of the Infectious Diseases Hospital some consideration recently, and Ire thought he had found a solution. Mr Cooper is one of those who does not think that the at Bottle Lake is the best possible, and the 1 scheme lie has thought out provides for the establishment of a completely new Infectious Diseases Hospital. Mr Cooper proposes that the Board's Tuarangi Old Men's Home, some distance out of Ashburton, should be sold to the Ashburton Hospital Board, that the present buildings at Bottle Lake should be. altered and adapted and be used for nil Old Men's Home, and that the new Infectious Diseases Hospital should be erected on a portion of the land acquired by the Board some time ago above the Consumption Sanatorium on Cashmere Hills. The proceeds of the sale of tho Tuarangi Home, Mr Cooper estimated, would provido the money required for tho new Infectious Diseases Hospital. As to the proposal to dispose of the Tuarangi Home, Mr Cooper pointed out the inconvenience and extra expense involved »n administering an institution so far distant from the Board's headquarters. In many cases the men -who apply for and arc granted admission to the Home are. at the time they are granted admission, practically penniless, and their fares to Ashburton have to be paid by the Board. Whenever any work —such as painting, for instance —has to be done at the Home, a man has, or men have, to be sent from Christchurch and their fares paid. There is also the expense incurred when the chairman periodically visits the institution. Already there are several old men from tho Ashburton district in the Home whose maintenance is paid for by the Ashburton Hospital Board; but owing to all available accommodation being in use, it will not be possible to take in any more, though there are some from the Ashburton district awaiting admission. Provision for the Board's Old Men's Home at Bottle Lake would, therefore, result in certain economies and, in Mr Cooper's oninion. the site and surround, ings at Bottle Lake are suitable and appropriate for the old men. With regard to the new Infectious Diseases Hospital. Mr Cooper emphasised the point that a really up-to-date institution could be established on the site on the Cashmere hills, as the' Board would have its past experiences at Bottle Lake to guide it in planning tho new institution. Whether or not the Ashburton Hospital Board is prepared to purchase the Tuarangi Home is not known, as that bodv has not had the proposal submitted to it, hut Mr Cooper helieve6 that ere long the Ashburton Board will have to do something in the matter of providiug for its aged and indigent men. as it is not likely that the present arrangement can be continued much longer.