OUT-PATIENTS AT HOSPITAL

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25737, 24 February 1949, Page 6

OUT-PATIENTS AT HOSPITAL

“ SCANDALOUS POSITION ” REPORTED

PROGRESS TOWARDS NEW BUILDING

Representatives of the North Canterbury Hospital Board and the Health Department have agreed on modified plans for the new temporary outpatients’ department of the Christchurch Hospital on the “manse site” opposite. Yesterday morning Mr J. J. Brownlee, who headed a deputation, told the board of -the case presented for urgent action. The chairman (Mr V. C. Lawn) asked Mr Brownlee if he wished to be heard in committee. “I see no reason for that,” was the reply. “I went to Wellington about our chief local bottleneck—the outpatients’ department—and our perfectly dreadful casualty department.” Mr Brownlee said. “They are pushed to capacity. Our out-patients’ department has the biggest turnover of any metropolitan hospital in New Zealand and is in a truly scandalous position. The population of persons in industry here equals that of Wellington and Hutt combined and industrial cases are proportionately numerous. Dressings are done in the sink room, steriliser rooms, etc. Our venereal diseases department is the worst in Australasia.” Photographs. taken quite haphazardly. had been presented to show the congestion and impossible conditions under which out-patients were treated, he said.

The board approved the modifications and will press for their early approval by the Loans Board and Public Works Department.