DIFFICULT PATIENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 17, 21 January 1916, Page 3

DIFFICULT PATIENTS

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE AND

:'D.T" CASES.

A HOSPITAL BOARD PROBLEM.

A problem that has long agitated the Hospital Board is that of^ dealing with attempted suicide and delirium tremens cases. Not long ago the Board wrote to the Health Department, statinfe that after 31st March next it would take no more of these cases, and at yesterday's meeting of the Board an emphatic reply was read from Colonel Valintine, In-spector-General of Hospitals. Colonel Valintine drew attention to section 63 of .the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Act, which stipulates that it is the duty of every Hospital and Charitable Aid Board to provide hospitals for any persons suffering from injury or any disease other than an infectious disease. "I would point out," added the letter, "that the Honourable the Minister declines to accept the notice sent by you, as your Board will be held responsible for the fulfilment of its obligations. Lest there should be any misapprehension in the mind of your Board, I beg hereby to give you notice that I consider it requisite on the part of your Board to provide for the treatment in the Wellington Hospital of cases of attempted suicide or of delirium tremens. I hereby direct your Board to receive such cases into your hospital."

The Chairman (Mr. H. Baldwin) said the letter had been before the Hospital Committee, and the secretary had been instructed to ~eply to the effect that if the Department fulfilled its promise of two years ago to pay the sum of £272, which it was estimated was spent on the Maternity Home, , the necessary place would be fitted up for the attempted suicide and delirium tremens cases.

The secretary (Mr. J Coyle) said he had held the Teply back until the matter had been- considered by the Board.

The Rev. H. Van Staveren contended that the Inspector-General had tried "to ride rough-shod over the Board," and he was not going to stand it. . Mrs. A. M'Vicar : Dr Valintine has no right to send such an impertinent letter!

Mr. C. M. Luke,said it was very discreditable -that the Government should endeavour to "pin-prick" the Board and .shirk its responsibilities. Eventually the Board decided to reply 'to the Inspector-General in the terms indicated by the chairman. .