EX-SOLDIER'S DEATH

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 35, 10 August 1934, Page 5

EX-SOLDIER'S DEATH

DUNEDIN R.S.A. ALLEGATION

REPLY BY HOSPITAL BOARD

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

IKVERCAEGILL, August 9.

Tho Southland Hospital Board today issued a statement in reply to a charge made by tho Dunedin Returned Soldiers' Association that it was due to tho obstinacy of the Southland Hospital Board in refusing to be responsible for tho payment of his fees that an ex-soldier who died was never given the opportunity of receiving tho attention of which he was so sorely in need.

The b.oard states that on July 24 the secretary of the Dunedin .Returned Soldiers' Association telegraphed the Southland Hospital Board for tho admission of tho soldier concerned to the Clyde Hospital, indicating that an explanatory letter was following. That letter, which was received at Inver eargill oil tho following day, indicated that tho soldier concerned was in a very bad.T.B. condition of long standing, and that ho was a married man with a family of eight. * The question of payment of fees to the. Vincent Hospital Board, had the Returned Soldiers' Association's request for admission to tho Clyde Hospital been granted, was never onco considered by 'lie Southland Hospital Board, which is paying the Vincent board for tho treatment of a number of male,, patients who are waiting their turn for admission to the Waipiata Sanatorium.

The action of tho Southland board in the matter, tho statement proceeds, was taken in .the very best interests of tho patient in making arrangements for his admission to the hospital of his lira- district, and to say that ho could not qb'tain the special treatment at that nstitutio' * that a person in his con ■lition required was incorrect. The Southland board denies that the negotiations were, protracted, and adds ■hat it accepts responsibility for the Miyment of patients admitted to the Dunedin hospital and allied institutions. The Southland board did all in its power to assist the pntien; without regard to tho, monetary aspect, and.,the question.of payment to the Vincent or aiiy other board was never once raised in correspondence.