THE WHITE SCOURGE

Evening Star, Issue 19723, 25 November 1927, Page 2

THE WHITE SCOURGE

CENTRAL OTAGO'S DILEMMA PATIENTS FROM OTHER CENTRES Undue hardship is being imposed upon the .small hospital districts, of Central Otago by a great many people, suffering from lung and chest troubles, from, other districts, taking up their residence there, and after three months’ residence being qualified to enter the Waipiata Sanatorium. The Otago Hospital Board briefly discussed the "problem at last night’s meeting. The Waipiata Sanatorium Committee advised that at a recent meeting the matter of the undue hardship imposed upon the small hospital districts of Central Otago, where a groat many persons suffering from lung and chest diseases took up their residence, was discussed, it being pointed out that by the amendment of the Hospitals Act persons from other parts of the dominion immediately qualified as residents of that district. The Waipiata Committee, as well as the Mauiototo and Vincent Hospital Boards, considered that so far as patients suffering from phthisis were concerned this was an unfair hardship, and the committeo (which embraces the hospital boards of Ashburton, South Canterbury, Waitaki, South Otago, Southland, Wallace, Vincent, and Maniototo) was of the opinion that something should be done to protect the ratepayers of the Central Otago districts in this matter. Tho committee had decided to circularise members of the Hospital Association so that they might be conversant with some of the difficulties now confronting the ratepayers of Central Otago, It bespoke the consideration of the association in tho matter with a view of either supporting the suggestion made to the Director-General of Health and the Hospitals’ Association or offering some other solution of the difficulty. Mr A. F. Quelch: This only goes back to what this board_ declared when the three months’ residence amendment came into force. The Otago Board could see plainly that people from other centres were attracted by special treatment. It is known that Central Otago specialises in T. 8., and they are now finding that patients from oilier centres are beginning to congregate there. Wo anticipated that by experience in tho Otago hospital. 'Tho three months’ residence is not sufficient. At tho conference one of the Central Otago men had voted against the extended time, and he is now realising the true state of affairs. Tho letter was referred to tho Finance Committee for a report. Tho Secretary of tho Hospital Boards’ Association forwarded the following summary in connection with T.B. cases:—Number of beds (a) hospitals—North Island 342, South Island 115; (b) special institutions for tuber-culosis—-North 214,_ South 448. Number of tuberculosis cases admitted, 1926-27; (a) Hospitals—North _ 678, South 245; (b) special institutions— North 342, South 536. Mr J. W. Dove: Wo in the South Island provide more beds than the North Island boards, although they may have more available. The beds in tho North arc largely provided bv the Government. That is what we should make clear to tho public.