The Evening Star TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 1920.

Evening Star, Issue 17325, 13 April 1920, Page 4

The Evening Star TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 1920.

The concise report by Dr Frengley and Dr Wylie, of the De-

Hospltal Requirements.

partment of Public Health, respecting the

hospital needs of South Otago ought to end forthwith the clamantargument for the creation of a separate hospital district comprising the Counties •of Bruce and Clutha. It ought also to galvanise the Otago Hospital Board into immediate and definite action in the matter of providing adequate hospital facilities for South* Otago. The report deals with, all the vital points in the recent controversy, and overwhelms every argument in favor of a separate hospital district. It covers the ground already traversed in this column, but adds expertevidence in support of our previous contention that South Otago is not yet capable of maintaining a fully-equipped district hospital of its own, and goes further as regards citation of the actual hospital needs of Bruce and Clutha, Country ratepayers, upon whom the hospital levy presses very heavily, and-pos-sibly out of all proportion to the facilities provided, should note carefully the statement of policy laid down clearly in the departmental report of Drs Frengley and Wylie:

The problem presented by the South Otago district is an interesting one, especially in view of what we regard as the only sound policy to pursue so far as hospital accommodation is concerned, and that is the establishment and development of certain large hospitals in the Dominion as base hospitals, to which all the small hospitals in their district should be attached. In ..these days of specialisation and “ team work,” which all are agreed - are essential to the attainment of the highest degree of professional efficiency, and therefore to the provision of the most skilled and efficient service for "the people of the • districts concerned, it is manifestly im"possible for a country like New Zealand to have more than a few such hospitals: and therefore the tendency for hospital districts to split up and become mnaller must he vigorously combated in th« interests of economy, efficient adsninistration, and efficient professional " service.

The report, which we published last night, details the striking advantages to be gained by South Otago by, acceptance of the existing system of hospital facilities and control. These, briefly, are X-ray services, both radioscopio and radio-thera-peutic, clinical diagnosis and research, pßiysio-therapeutic treatment (massage and bo on', and the services of skilled physi-’ ciane and surgeons who are devoting their whole energies to their respective specialties. Such advantages are beyond the rg- " sources of South Otago as a special hospital district. As it is the duty of South Otago consider the commonsense view of the general policy, so it is the duty of the Hospital authorities to act upon the .departmental opinion, in respect to the definite hospital ■ needs of dissatisfied contributors. These needs include the establishment of a p small hospital at Balclutha, a cottage host

pital at Owaka, and essential alterations | to the existing cottage hospital at Kai-1 tangata. There should be no unreasonable 1 delay on the part oi the Otago Hospital Board in taking action to provide the facilities recommended by the Deputy In-spector-General of Hospitals and the Inspector of Hospitals/ Their list •of requirements for South Otago is not put i forward as a diplomatic compromise. It follows a careful investigation throughout i the district. . and meets pressing • needs, I the past neglect of which helped largely | to encourage the movement for the crea-1 tion of a separate hospital district. If | such requirements' are met promptly and | fully, the feeling of resentment against j the present administration will soon dis- j appear, though it may never give way to tone of enthusiastic admiration for a system that is not without blemish.