"A WASH-OUT"

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 126, 24 November 1922, Page 7

"A WASH-OUT"

TRANSFER OF TRENTHAM

PATIENTS

\VELLINGTON HOSPITAL'S

POSITION

EXTRA BUILDINGS XJNNEOES- / SARY.

"You will see that the Trenthwii proposals are a 'wash-out,' " remarked the chairman (Mr. F. Castle) at the .Wellington Hospital Board's meeting yesterday afternoon, when a report on the proposed transfer of buildings from Treniham to the Wellington Hospital grounds was submitted by the Finance, Property, and Policy Committee. The turn _of events was received with a good deal of satisfaction by members, in view of the fact that it released the board from heavy expenditure that would not now be justified. Originally a large number of patients receiving special treatment at Trentham were expected to be transferred to (,he Wellington Hospital, and in order to accommodate them it would have bee.n necessary to provide a special orthopaedic ward and workshop as well as accommodation for nurses. The number of patients to be transferred had since decreased to. such an extent that the necessary accommodation could be found at the hospital without providing temporary buildings. The report was as follows:—

"Mr. E. M, Blake, architect, having estimated that the cost of this work (the proposed transfer of buildings) would be at least £4250, plus extras, the matter was submitted to the Health Department \Tith a suggestion that this heavy expenditure on temporary buildings should be* avoided if possible. It was expected originally that Wellington Hospital would be required to take from forty to fifty in-patients and twenty to twenty-five outpatients. Dr. and our medical superintendent haye looked into the present position, and it is now found that only thirteen infantile paralysis cases are certain to be .transferred, and possibly eight service patients may be sent to Wellington. Under these circumstances the Department and Dr., Wilson agree that there is no necessity to erect temporary accommodation. The N committee therefore recommends:—(l) That the architect be instructed to abandon work in connection with the transfer of Trentham buildings; (2) that Dr.- W. S. Bobertson, orthopaedic specialist, be appointed to carry on special treatment for the Trentham cases;, and also similar cases in Wellington Hospital, and assist generally in the development of the physiotherapy department and other branches. Salary £900, non-resident; (3) that a sister and two masseuses be added to the staff if required." The chairman briefly outlined the position, and with .reference to the appointment mentioned in the report, he stated that the board had in mind the additions which were contemplated, 'and which would involve alterations to the building in which they were meeting. The intention was to develop the kind of work that was being done, at Trentham. Mr. E. Vine considered that the board was to be congratulated upon something happening to prevent the board from heavy expenditure. It seemed that the board had been misled in the early stages of the negotiations. "It is a matter in which not only thfe board, but the whole community, should be congratulated," remarked Mr. C. M. Luke. ''It is a very great advantage to us and to the community that we have only to provide for the number of cases mentioned in the report." The latest development did not, however, remove the necessity of providing at some future date a ward for the treatment of the special class of case under notice. With the relief from that expenditure he thought that the board would now be able to push on as soon as possible with the. work of providing additions to the Nurses' Home. Other members spoke in similar strain, and the report was adopted.