T.B. HOSPITAL FOR TIMARU

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23748, 21 September 1942, Page 2

T.B. HOSPITAL FOR TIMARU

MINISTER’S REPLY TO PROTEST

“I have been unable to find one tittle of evidence to justify my interfering in the matter,” said the Minister of Health (the Hon. A. H. Nordmeyer) at Timaru on Saturday, when he met a representative deputation protesting against the erection of a new tuberculosis hospital in Otipua road, Timaru, for the South. Canterbury Hospital Board.

Representatives of the following bodies were present:—the South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, .the West End Ratepayers* Association, the Timaru Labour Representation Committee, the Timaru branch of the Labour Party, the Federation of Labour, and school committees.

The Acting-Mayor of Timaru (Mr P. B. Foote), who presided, reviewed matters leading up to the meeting with the Minister, including the granting of a permit for the hospital by the Borough Council, and protests by residents against its erection. Mr A. R. Graham said that a protest against the erection of the hospital was being lodged on behalf of the patients, nurses, and residents of the surrounding district. He contended that more suitable sites were available for the hospital, which, if erected in Otipua road, would arouse fears of infection among the residents. Suggesting that a grave danger was being created, especially to children of the district. Mr Graham presented a petition signed by 733 residents protesting against the selection of the Otipua road site for the hospital. Referendum Suggested

Mr S. G. McClelland, who supported Mr Graham’s remarks, suggested the holding of a referendum, in conjunction with the forthcoming mayoral election, to determine citizens’ attitude to the hospital. Mr W. S. Ramsay referred to the depreciation of properties adjacent to the new hospital. He had obtained two verbal medical opinions stating that the tuberculosis block would constitute a danger to nearby residents. The site in Otipua road, said Mr Ramsay, was absolutely unsuitable for the comfort and treatment of tubercular patients. Mr H. G. Naylor, secretary to the South Canterbury Hospital Board, said that many years ago a scarlet fever hospital was built In Otipua road. There were very few houses in the locality at the time, yet to-day the district was described as closely settled. That surely disproved any suggestion that property values would.be depreciated by the erection of the new hospital. To-day. continued Mr Naylor, tubercular patients were nursed 46 feet away from the Timaru Park, which was used as a playground for children. In the new hospital tubercular patients would be 235 feet away from Otipua road. Dr. Kidd, medical superintendent at Waipiata Sanatorium, had stated that the danger of infection to residents would be non-existent. Dr. L. C. McNickle, Director of the Hospitals Division of the Health Department, and Dr. J. C. McKenzie, medical superintendent of Timaru Hospital, both stated that they considered the proposed site in Otipua road a suitable one for the purpose. .Minister’s Views

The Minister said he was being asked to veto decisions made by the South Canterbury Hospital Board and the Timaru Borough Council. “Before I should do so,” said the Minister, “strong evidence to show the advisability of so doing should be produced.” It was admitted, added Mr Nordmeyer, that present facilities for tubercular patients at the Timaru Hospital were inadequate. The Health Department had urged the Hospital Board to proceed with the building of a tuberculosis block. No impartial observer could suggest that patients’ interests would be prejudiced by the erection of the new block. “This is a T.B. block and not a sanatorium,” said Mr Nordmeyer. "Some T.B. cases which are unsuitable for sending to Waipiata will be treated there. Some will die early, but not all. This is not an institution where a patient goes to die —that would be a very unfortunate impression. The patients’ interests will be materially assisted by the Otipua road block. “So.far as the nurses are concerned,” the Minister added, “thev will be much more unlikely to catch the disease than at present.. They will have the advantages of being near the nurses home and in the town area. A better selection of nurses can be made because of that."

Referring to the infection danger to residents. Mr Nordmey r said that the medical opinions expressed were worthy of the weightiest consideration. Tuberculosis was not as infectious as certain other diseases. “I cannot see that any convincing argument can be produced that the interests of residents will be'prejudiced by the Otipua road site,” concluded the Minister. “This agitation against it would be more likely to depredate properties than anything else. I can see no good reason for interfering with the decisions of the Hospital Board and Borough Council. It is better that all this agitation should be allowed to drop.