SHOULD IT BE CLOSED?

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 155, 27 March 1926, Page 9

SHOULD IT BE CLOSED?

OTAKI HOSPITAL DISPUTE ALLEGED BREACH OF FAITH DEPUTATION TO MINISTER “What we should like is to collect our own rates and manage our own hospital as a Hospital Board,” said Mr. W. H. Field, member for Otaki, yesterday when emphasising the necessity for a hospital to be maintained in Otaki instead of allowing effect to be given to the proposal to have the Otaki district served solely by the Palmerston North Hospital Board. A large deputation representative of all sections of the community yesterday waited upon the Hon. J. A. Young, Minister of Health, at Otaki in connection with the proposal to close that hospital. Amongst those present were Mr \V. 11. Field, M.P., Mr. G. A. Monk, chief representative for Otaki on the Palmerston North Hospital Board, Sir James Wilson, chairman of the Palmerston North Hospital Board, Dr. T. H. A. Valintine, Director-General of Health, and Mrs. Harry Whiehill, secretary of the Plunket Society. Mr. J. P. Brandon, Mayor of Otaki, presided. Mr. Field said that ho had felt inclined to call a public meeting in March, but the Minister of Lad thought it advisable to discuss the question of the closing of the Otaki Hospital with representatives of the district. , 'lhe whole area between Paekakariki and Levin was represented at the meeting, and there was strong indignation against the proposed closing of the institution, which had done excellent work since its establishment by the Maoris and Europeans some twenty-five years ago. Until comparatively recently it liad been announced by the authorities that the Otaki Hospital was a model institution. Fortunately or unfortunately the people at one stage had thought that they would be better served by the Palmerston North Hospital. The Minister: What year was that? Mr. Field: About 1918. The matter was fully considered at the time by Dr. Valintine, and it was announced that the hospital should not be closed. - There seemed to be a set desire on the part of thb Wellington Hospital Board to close the Otaki institution. which had not been supplied with the. necessary amount ot equipment and supplies to make it thoroughly efficient. Patients were taken to Palmerston North, with a result that the hospital could not pay its way.

Emergency Ward Insufficient. The hospital was absolutely necessary and it could be made to pay its way if it were run properly. Notwithstanding the fact that the Department desired to centralise, consideration should be given to the fact that Otaki was peculiarly situated in that it was an extensive district, and could not lie suitably served by either Wellington Qr Palmerston North. The land on which the institution was built had been •riven by the Maoris for that specific purpose, and money was contributed by the Europeans towards the cost oi the hospital and for no other purpose. It would be a breach of trust to - close the institution, and if this weic done then the land should be given back to the Maoris and the money repaid. If institutions were to remain at preytown, Carterton, and Mastertoil, then that at tail should also remain. It might be a proposal ot the Department to establish an emergency ward, but what was wanted was a hospital that couild bo called such. “We supplied it ourselves, and w e a e entitled to it,” continued Mr. Field, who emphasised the tact that lne=, ot patients might often be saved by taking them to Otaki instead ot to some more distant hospital, The cost of the conveyance of patients to lalmer'•Mon North was another factor in support of retaining the local jns V^ tlo “; If the hospital were closed down it would mean very large nenditure at Palmerston North. What we should like is to collect our' <<«n rates and manage our own hospital as a hospital board,” remarked the speaker, ainid loud applause. It had been elt that the Otaki Hospital authorities had not had the full confidence ot members of the Palmerston North Hospital Board of the Palmerston North Hospital Board, and as a result the Otaki instate had been discouraged and it about until there was very little of it left If the hospital were enco’uaged it would be full ‘Tom one week to another. just as it was before it; wasi d<> pLIm! to take patients to laimeision North “We want the hospital and we want it encouraged, concluded the speaker. GrOwth of Dist rict.

Mr Monk, who .spoke in strong opposition to the proposed closing of the hospital, said that he appeared as a representative of the district and not as a member of the Palmerston Hospital Board. He had been a resident of the district for some 33 years. I he OtaKi Hospital was established in 1897' under tho administration of the Hospital Board, when some eight oi ten beds 1 were provided. It now contained eighteen beds. In 1897 the popuffi urn was by no means what it w as to-day. Although at that time there weru hospitals at Palmerston North and Wellington, eight or ten beds were insufficient so how could a lesser number poss by meet requirements in future?, (Hearty applause). Otaki was a district of small settlers and it was necessary to cater for a number of people who could nol afford to pay. If the hospital were taken away it would mean the undoing of manv vears excellent work. In consequence of the agitation to be joined up with Palmerston North m preference to Wellington, the change was made, notwithstanding the tact that it was felt that Palmerston North did not want Otaki to be linked up there, lhe Palmerston institution was already veiy much overcrowded and just before the New Year there were some 30 or 46 more patients than there should hnave been. Neverthless. it . was proposed to close the Otaki institution arid extend the buildings at Palmerston North. It was by no manner of means a sound policy, even conceding that the. trend of policy was towards centralisation. Mr-. Monk staneed the difficulties experienced during the influenza epidemic when it was thought that an institution would have to be opened at Levin. “Evon then the Hospital Board would not help us, remarked Mr. Monk. Voice?: Shame! Hospital Board Inhumane Continuing Mr. Monk said that he thought centralisation could be carried too far. If people had to be taken ary ■-rent distance it was io their, disa ivantage. To take a case from Otaki to Palmerston North would cost JEG or £1 and that sum would pay for two weeks’ treatment at Otaki. Dr. Valintine: That cost is borne by tho board. , Mr. Monk: “If possible people should be made self-reliant. The attitude taken by the Palmerston North Hospital Board is inhumane. Off the recommendation of the Health Department the board passed a resolution that after March Ml, it would not contribute towards the treatment of any patient in the Otaki Hospital. Although we were contributing to the board we were denied anr contribution for a Palmerston North patient in the Otaki Hospital.” Continuing. Mr. Monk said he strongly condemned the Palmerston North Hospital Board for the attitude it had taken up, and in this connection he desired to be entirely dissociated with it. The board had passed a resolution agreeing to pay for four beds in the Otaki Hospital,’ and yet withia a very few months

it had passed a subsequent resolution agreeing not to contribute at all. -Mr.' Field: They take our money tliough. Mr. Monk: Y'es, they take the money all right They are most inconsistent. It will be a breach of trust to close the hospital. Whilst I regret the need for an extension of the sanatoria, it is not fair to do so at the expense of the hospital. Mr. J. G. Maclean, of Paraparaumu. supported what had been said against the closing of the hospital. Mr. D. S. Milne, late visiting officer at the Otaki Hospital, said that prior to his cessation of duties the institution averaged 15 patients and nine operations a month. If that work had been passed on it would have meant a gieat deal for other institutions. After his services had been dispensed with it was impossible for Dr. A. H. Curtis to give an anaesthetic and perform an operation Therefore, with one exception, no operations had been performed. In regard to the propsoal to establish an emergency ward, he stated that it . would cost almost as much to have equipment and to make provision for four patients as it would for 18. (Applause.) The Maoris’ Claims. Rota Tahiwi (one of the original owners of the hoSpital land), who spoke through the medium ot an interpreter, said that it was the opinion of the Maoris that the hospital should be kept open. He was one of those who had given an area of 12 acres for the express pui pose of the erection of a hospital. The Maoris were pleased with the service that had been rendered by the hospital staff, and they sincerely hoped that it would not’ be closed. It however, it was decided to close the institution, Rota Tahiwi, as one of the original owners, asked that the land be restored to the Maoris. Father Vibaud supported previous speakers in Their protest against the suggested closing of the institution. He suggested that the appointment of an honorary staff would enable the hospital io ba made a paying proposition. Sir James Wilson dealt at length, with the reasons that had been advanced tor the closing of the Otaki institution and the need for centralisation in order that patients could get the benefit of treatment with the most up-to-date ancienUfie appliances. Mr. Monk, he said, had made the implication, though not the statement, that the Palmerston North Hospital Board was inhumane. Mr. Monk (emphatically): Oh no! I Times Wilson: We would be much more humane by having patients at Palmerston North where there are much better appliances, etc. Voices: That is very questionable. Continuing, Sir James M ilson said that whilst he did not wiAi to reflect upon the inntegrity of the medical officers at Otaki the Board had in Palmerston North a much more efficient staff at the hospital. Otaki a Separate Board.

Dealing with Mr. Field s suggestion that Otaki should have a Hospital Board of its own the speaker said that lie ana Mr. J. K. Hornblow, another member of the Board who was present, would have no objection to a separate board being established. He thought that other members of the Palmerston North Hospital Board would raise no opposition to such a course. In spite of the pathetic appeals that had been made time to time and that afternoon, Sir James Wilson .thought it was to th® advantage of patients that they should ba treated at Palmerston North. Mr. Hornblow also spoke in support ■of the contention that the hospital should be closed. He said that the Board was sympathetic but could not see that the Otaki cottage hospital was justified. It cost Palmerston North J:3 JOO annually and ho asked whether it was fair that Palmerston should have to pay. In the case of indigent people being treated in a private hospital, .say ln Otaki, the Board was always willing to foot the bill. He objected to the statement that the Board was inhumane. In rising to reply the Hon. J. A. Young was greeted with sustained applause. He thanked tho speakers for their congratulations upon his elevation to Ministerial rank. He had come to Otaki that afternoon to learn something of the district’s problems and he hoped that there would be no feeling in such an important matter as the closing or otherwise of the hospital. The speaker expressed the opinion that the attitude of going to a medical man should be discouraged by getting people to take ■’■renter care in the preservation of their health. The local problem appeared to be a burning question and he could not give a decision there and then. There was much to be considered before a definite decision could bo arrived at By the expression of opinion it was evident that those present were prepared to constitute a separate district, and thus control their own hospital. A Community Responsibility. The Government, however, gave practically a .£1 for XI subsidy to hospitals, and ‘therefore it had a responsibility to the community. As Minister of Health though he was determined that there should bo no economy at the expense of efficiency. (Loud applause.) Continuing, Air. Young said that there were some 48 hospital board districts in New Zealand and it was not to the advantage of the community to have too many hospital boards. If "a separate district were established it would be necessary to have not only a base hospital, but several adjuncts, such as infectious diseases wards, etc. Equipment was also mi expensive matter and many brands could not go in for the best appliances. He agreed with Mr. Hornblow that pro. per bacteriological appliances were essential and while the Palmerston North Hospital Board might have no objection to a separate district for Otaki, ths Health Department had an important duty to the community. He loped that an amicably arrangement would bo come to between the parties concerned, and any assistance that he or h,s departmental officers could offer would be gladly given. In conclusion the Minister dreW attention to the fact that there was uneasiness in the mind of many u edical men and representative people regarding the largb number of operations «n New Zealand. “If it so happens that there are too many operations and too much surgery in New Zealand hospitals the whole ’question will have to be investigated,” stated Air. Young. If such be the case,” concluded the speaker, ‘1 should have no hesitation in recommending to the Government that a tribunal be set up to investigate the whole The Minister was heartily thanked for his attendance and the meeting dosed with a vote of thaciks to the chair.