The Gisborne Herald. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED "THE TIMES” GISBORNE, THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 1945. THE COOK HOSPITAL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21697, 26 April 1945, Page 4

The Gisborne Herald. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED "THE TIMES” GISBORNE, THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 1945. THE COOK HOSPITAL

It has undoubtedly come as a shock to the local bodies and the ratepayers of the district that the programme of Ihe Cook Hospital Board will involve the payment of £11.071 more in maintenance costs in the coming financial year than in 1944-45. It has been well enough known for some, time that no pains and no expense were being spared to make the institution one of the most modern and .best-equipped of its kind. From the point of view of service to the public there would have been nothing to cavil at if the board had been careful to concentrate on the essentials and had eschewed the frills. Much of the criticism associated with the reactions to the release of the estimates is based on the charge that too much money lias been sunk in the new and imposing administrative block, “technically known as the polyclinic.

That improvements of a substantial nature were necessary to keep pace with tlie increasing work and den, velopment of the hospital goes without saying and up to a point the board is. to be. congratulated bn the measure of comfort.now provided for; both the patients'and staff. The real worry centres, on the reckoning, made the more tol'inidable because, in spite of protests in the past from-citizens who foresaw heavy financial demands, the board would appear to have indulged in ultra-lavishness on the administrative side. That the accommodation thus provided will be appreciated in the long run is probable, but it does seem that at this particular time the first call, the urgent call, was for new wards for patients.

OUT-PATIENTS’ NEEDS

In vindication of the board’s policy the chairman claimed that the hospital was giving a full and satisfactory service to the public requiring hospital treatment. This will find a large measure of endorsement. Indeed, the district is to be congratulated upon its efficient hospital service and the skilled care and attention given to the patients. There is, however, another aspect of the service which merits some consideration—that is, the convenience of out-patients. If future plans are to be designed to cater for the expansion or the transfer of the out-patients’ department, specialists’ examination rooms, places for periodical treatment* and headquarters of the home nursing service, the board would be wise to see what can be done about providing facilities in more convenient premises in town.

This would eliminate the laborious climb to an otherwise perfect hospital site and earn the gratitude of a large section of the community. The necessity for retaining two staffs would be largely obviated by the observance of certain hours and by special arrangements for staff transport where necessary, As a step towards this programme it might have been possible to acquire a town building capable of being renovated, with the likelihood'that the total cost would have been much less than the erection of the present polyclinic block. P : -’i.vr:; A v

But the question of the moment is how to meet. the year's financial requirements: Apparently the planning has the official blessing of the Minister of Health, who has spoken for the Government. Subsidies from the Government will total £47,581, as against £31,263 last year. That is a big help, but unfortunately it does not mean that the burden has been lifted from a number of already harassed local bodies.

COUNCILS’ BURDEN

The Borough Council’s preliminary discussion on the subject reveals that the increase in the levy upon it from £9G54 to £13,173 is a matter of deep concern, giving rise to the almost inevitable outcome that certain works scheduled for this year will have to be postponed. The county councils will probably find themselves in a similar predicament and no local body will view with any optimism the prospect of having to raise its rates. Naturally, the ratepayers, on whom the final burden or part 'of it may fall, will be even less cheerful. The chairman of the Hospital Board caused wide apprehension when he gave information on the contemplated five-year plan of capital expenditure, with an additional 20year plan for the more distant future. Actually, there is not so much cause for worry over this as may seem at first thought. It all depends on the nature of the planning. Adherence to the principle of basic needs first and the avoidance of expenditure on schemes that are not absolutely essential would be a 1 sounder method of providing for the future than a year-to-year system which might degenerate into a patchwork and wholly unsatisfactory result. Had boards 'in the past, for whose policy the present administrators have no responsibility, planned more efficiently, tne problems of to-day would not have been nearly so acute. Hie boards of the later, years have also had to cope with the heavier demand for service originating in recent legislative measures. They have accomplished much for which they are worthy of the warmest, commendation. Once the contributing local bodies are over this fmanen,. bump, all they should demand is that in future ■ planning every 'possible consideration should be shown for those wlio have 1 to help in - ',m jotmg maintenance Cos% ■