ST. HELENS HOSPITALS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 101, 26 October 1925, Page 8

ST. HELENS HOSPITALS

A EEPLY TO CRITICISM.

(BX TIXEGItAPH. —FItESS ASSOCIATION.)

AUCKLAND, This Day. The criticism of the conditions ,exibting at the St. Helens hospitals raado by Mr. Morton, National candidate, lias drawn a reply from Dr. J. Hughes, Medical Officer of Health. Mr. Morton stated the hospitals were in an overtaxed condition, that no conveyance was provided to lake tho nurses io eases, and that the Government's purpose in having hospital boards for their administration threatened to turn tbera into inoney-nviking institutions. Deferring to St. Helens Hospital, Auckland, Dr.' Hughes said the question of outside accommodation for nurses was now under consideration, lie quiteadmitted more accommodation was required. The question of extending the present building was also under consideration, but was delayed on account of the proposal that the Hospital Board might take over administration of the institution. Regarding the suggestion of the hospital being a money-making institution,. Dr. Hughes said they •would have to pay their way. Hospital boards would have to run them, however, for the class of patients' for which they were provided. The statement that no conveyance is provided for nurses is quite wrong. In urgent cases, or in cases where a nurto is required late it night, ihey are authorised to hire a. taxieab. In the ordinary course of events they would make" use of other conveyances.