CHARGE DENIED

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21239, 10 August 1934, Page 14

CHARGE DENIED

DEATH OF RETURNED SOLDIER STATEMENT BY SOUTHLAND HOSPITAL HOARD i.t-SIIisS A.-S'j(;IATI'jS tll.t'Jl;.\!l,i INVERCARGILL. August 3. The Southland Hospital Board today issued a statement in reply to a charge made by the Dunedin Returned Soldiers' Association that it was due to the obstinacy of the Southland Hospital Board, in refusing to be responsible for the payment of his fees, that a returned soldier who died was not given an opportunity of receiving the attention of which he was in need. The board states that on July 24, the secretary oi the Dunedin Returned Soldiers' Association telegraphed to the Southland Hospital Board for the admission of the soldier concerned to the Clyde Hospital, indicating that an explanatory letter was following. That letter which was received at Invercargill the following day, indicated that the soldier concerned was in a very bad condition o£ tuberculosis of long standing, and that he was n married man with a,family of eight. The question of the payment of fees to the Vincent Hospital Board, had the Returned Soldiers' Association's request for admission to the Clyde Hospital been granted, was never once considered by the Southland Hospital Board, which is paying the Vincent Board for the treatment of a number of male patients who are awaiting their turn for admission to the Waipiata Sanatorium.

The action of the Southland Board was taken in the very best interests of the patient. In making arrangements for his admission to the hospital of his own district, says the board, and to say that he could not obtain the special treatment at that institution that a person in his condition required, is incorrect. The Southland Board denies that the negotiations were protracted, and adds that it accepts responsibility for payment of the fees of patients admitted to the Dunedin Hospital and allied institutions.