HOSPITAL SERVICE IN HUTT VALLEY

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 256, 26 July 1935, Page 12

HOSPITAL SERVICE IN HUTT VALLEY

Superintendent’s Report

ERECTION OF BLOCK NO'E

ADVISED

'Taking ad things into consideration, it. is felt: that, the Hutt: Valley is not adequately served regarding sickness at the present time: but; the improvements which are required in medical and nursing service and transport can be given without the immediate erection of a hospital block in the valley. This conclusion was arrived at in a report: tabled at Hie Wellington Hospital Board’s meeting last night by the medical superintendent, Dr. A. It. Thorne. “There are two definite schools of thought on this question.” Dr. 'Thorne slated. "One would centralise everything in the present hospital grounds with radiating services; the other would limit tho present hospital group and establish a second centre in tho Hutt Valley. The present population of tlie city is approximately J 16.0(19, and that: of the Hutt Valley (Lower Hutt 15,000. i'etoiio 11,230, Eastbourne 21.10 and Upper Hutt 3780) approximately 32,000. 'The future development of the district: inllst, be largely Up the Hutt Valley, though there is still, room for expansion in some suburbs, such us Mira inn r.

“The policy decided upon for t lie next few years will, be determined after consideration of many factors. If tlie Hutt Valley population increases as is anticipated. eventually there will be a hospital in the valley. 'J’b.e questions are, what type of hospital should be selected, and when should the first portion be erected ?” Reporting on the facilities already existing in AVellington. Dr. Thorne remarked that the hospital board within recent years had commenced a plan of hospital, reconstruction. In tho present hospital there was a complete unit for accident and emergency work, a com-, plete out-patient unit, together with denial, massage and actino-tberapy departments all welt established. There were special clinics for eye, ear, nose, and. throat, skin diseases. sychoses. tuberculosis, venereal diseases. and urological cases. For personnel there was a medical staff of twelve resident officers, together with over fifty visiting medical practitioners: a staff of 267 nurses and live qualified dispensers. Concentration of Service. The advantages of this concentration of service were:—A service always available, whether medical, nursing or dispensing; experience gained from Ihe variety of cases was available to others; t lie cost per patient treated was lessened : a full range of service was available to the patient, and this avoided transference for operation, X-ray, massage, ami other services: consultations with specialists were easy to obtain because of Hie situation of the hospital; the opportunity for special study available io the future private practitioners, which thus benefited the public. , Owing to the bottle-neck connecting the city with the Hutt Valley, the valley appeared as a separate unit. Tlie population, conqia.red with that of some of Hie suburbs in Sydney and Atelbourue. was comparatively small—not half of some of the larger Australian suburbs, which contained 60,000 or more people. 'The suburbs were often situated much further from a hospital centre than the Hutt was from M'ellington, and yet: no serious consideration was given to erecting furl her large hospitals. The aim had been to provide safe and rapid transport service. 'The problem receiving tittention in the large cities was (be outpatient question, and this seemed to be the question requiring immediate attention here.

(hitpatients canie from Upper Hutt and other centres, and witli travelling and waiting the better part of a day was often spent. 'l’be alternative was to take some of the services to the districts, and this could be accomplished by a modified dispensary system worked in conjunction witli tho district nursing schemes, radiating from the central hospital. If a. hospital were erected in Lower Hutt immediately, many cases would still have to come to AA’ellington, unless a complete unit were established with theatre, X-ray and massage de]iarlnients. The outpatient: service would he much tho sanie as the proposed dispensary. Unless resident medical otiivers were living on the premises the serviees of a doctor would not always be available. Accident cases would not. reaeh hospital niiieh sooner than if they came to AA'ellinglon because the iristanee from the site of an accident Io Ihe hospital would not: be great in most eases. There was a disadvantage to visitors in having to go into Hie city to see friends in hospital. "Not Adequately Served." "'Taking all things into consideration, one feels that Hie Unit: A'alley is not adequately served regarding sickness at the present, time,” Dr. Thorne said. “Improvements are required iu medical service, nursing service and transport. "Improvements in these can be given without; tlie immediate erection of a hospital block. A dispensary system could lie worked at. each district nurse’s centre, a doctor visiting each centre for a period or periods per week, and arrangements being made for tlie necessary niediciucs. An increase in district nurses and facilities for travelling tvere required. 'Transport, must be available in tlie busy centres, which nieans the establishment: of al least an ambulance station at. Lower Hull.

"Later on it is hoped to be able to give statistics relating to the valley.”