DUNEDIN HOSPITAL.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20909, 17 July 1933, Page 5

DUNEDIN HOSPITAL.

PATIENTS FROM OUTSIDE DISTRICT. The large number of Southland residents seeking admission to, and Treatment in, the Dunedin Hospital for radium, X-ray, and other special treatment has caused the Southland Hospital Board some concern (states the ".southland Times";. The gecretajy.

has written to the Otago Board asking if it would be possible for the board's medical staff at the hospital to advise whether such patients were recommended by a medical man in the Southland distrist. "We feel certain," the letter stated, "that there are some who have gone in without being recommended by any of the board's own medical officers; and while we do not wish to put any obsta. 2 in the way of all patients from our district securing the special treatment they re- ■ quire, my boa:.. feels that as the num- . ber seems to be on the increase it should know who is really responsible 1 for sending such a large proportion of '4 these patients t» Dunedin." ii was.

decided that the secretary should also write to all medical practitioners in Southland asking them to advise thej board of all cases sent to an institution outside the board's district. It was also decided to suggest to the Wallace' Board that it should adopt a similar procedure with regard to the medical practitioners in its district, it being stated that too many patients were sent to the Southland Hospital from the Wal" district. Charge Against Hospital. Lack of provision for the treatment at the Dunedin Hospital of injuries resulting from accidents was allegedly shown yesterday- when *• mail, whose

injuries included the loss of one finger of the right hand and serious injury to another, as the result of beins jammed against a telegraph post at the foot of Burlington street by a motor '■ van, was taken into the casualty ward i (states Saturday's "Otago Daily : Times"). The citizen who kindly ; drove the injured man to the hospital ; states that they arrived there shortly : before 12 o'clock, and. that it was 20 minutes past 12, despite the fact that he made three requests for a doctor. be "ore treatment was given. In the : meantime the sufferer sat patiently s awaiting the arrival of the doctor wi'h - only a handkerchief wrapped rouad > .his hand.