HOSPITAL INQUIRY

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 190, 10 May 1938, Page 15

HOSPITAL INQUIRY

Community Facilities Urged MR. STOUT’S EVIDENCE Meeting Public Demand In Wellington INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION A feature of the evidence given yesterday before the Royal Commission Which is investigating the present and prospective needs of the Wellington hospital district was a suggestion by Mr. T. D. M. Stout, representing the honorary staff at the hospital, that provision should be made for community hospital facilities. He stated that there was a definite public demand in Wellington for the provision of private and intermediate beds and a shortage of private hospital accommodation. The members of the Commission are: Mr U. A. Young, S.M., chairman; Dr. D. S. Wylie, Dr. H. Hardwick-Smith, Mr A E. Currie is appearing for the Crown; Mr. J. O’Shea for the Wellington City Corporation and the other contributory local authorities with the exception of Petone; Mr. O. It. Powles for the 'Wellington Hospital Board. Summing up the position, Mr. Stout said the provision of accommodation of the kind suggested would help to finance the establishment of a modern hospital and help in the future the upkeep of' the public wards of this institution. The special facilities provided should lie available to all classes of the community. “It would enable those who can make some extra contribution to their expense to have greater privacy, comfort and individual attention than is possible in 'he general wards,’’ he said., “It would tend to correct some of the grosser anomalies of the honorary and part-time staffing system by offering an opportunity for those who can pay their doctors to do so, at a special rate. It would enable a patient to be treated in the hospital by his or her own doctor, at the same time making available the special services that the hospital alone can supply. “In Widespread Operation.’’ “It is a system in widespread operation in all English-speaking countries and its development recently has been rapid. The success of the system is incontestable.’’ Evidence was given by Dr. E. H. M. Duke, representing the Wellington division of the British Medical Association, who also dealt with the question of providing community or intermediate beds.

Mr. Powles said the community wing proposal had not been officially considered or pronounced upon by the hospital board. He wanted to make it clear that he might have to make other submissions to the Commission at a later stage. Mr. O’Shea said he was acting for all the contributory local authorities, except the Petone Borough Council, which desired to put its case separately. The people he represented suggested that the only way the proposed scheme could be made possible would be by establishing a community wing. Health Department’s View.

The director of the division of hospitals, Department of Health, Dr. R. A. Shore, who gave evidence last week, was cross-examined yesterday. Replying to Mr. O’Shea, he said he was of opinion the time would come when the Hutt Valley should have a hospital, but he also believed that the provision of such a hospital should not be allowed to take precedence over the development of the base hospital. The considered opinion of the Health Department was that the present hospital was on the best site available and should not be shifted further north.

The superintendent of the hospital, Dr. A. R. Thorne, whose evidence was taken last week, was under cross-ex-amination when the Commission adjourned at 5 p.m. till 10 a.ra. to-day.

PLAN’S DEVELOPMENT

Dr. Thorne Cross-Examined

“CANNOT BE DONE IN SECTIONS”

The cross-examination of the superintendent of the Wellington Hospital, Dr. A, R. Thorne, whose evidence was taken last week, was commenced yesterday. Mr. J. O'Shea, representing the Wellington City Corporation and the other contributory local authorities, excepting Petone: “You prepared the scheme originally, a different scheme from this. It was to bo done in four sections?” Witness: “Yes.”

Have you any idea of what that would have cost? —“No. I was only here four weeks then.” Wasn’t there a figure proposed for the cost of the first section of the scheme—£lso,ooo?—“l think it was about £155,000 we told the local bodies we would be going for-for the first part of the original scheme. We never got out what the total scheme would cost.” In 1936 you and Mr. Haughton went to Australia and met Mr. Stephenson there?—“Yes.”

Was it not he who first proposed the idea of doing the whole thing at once? —“No. Dr. Gordon Anderson was the first one. The second scheme was to erect two six-story blocks instead of three four-story ones. Following on discussion of that the hospital board had further meetings and Dr. Anderson said lie thought it was wrong to add any more buildings to the present block. “At a subsequent board meeting I told the board what the custom in Victoria was and the board then decided that it would get Mr. Stephenson over and have a talk with him,” Dr. Thorne added. “On May 14, 1036, it was decided to employ him as consultant architect. In September, 1936, the board received his first official report on the problem. There were many discussions with the Department of Health. The sdhetne was reduced to shape and the figures given now were for 350 beds. The cost would include that ami the nurses’ home, boiler house ajul kitchen ami theatre services. We asked to lie allowed to borrow up to £750.000. Ido uot think there will be anything over the £750,000.”

How far do you agree, as a medical man, a.s to the benefit the community would get from a community wing?— “I think the board appreciates that I have always favoured the intermediate hospital. But if is not the pulley adopted in New Zealand, so it does not: concern me unless the board alters its policy.” Supposing lliis plan is to go abend. Could it be done in sodions?- -“No. it would be uneconomical to do It in sections.”