HOSPITAL EXPENDITURE

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 2 May 1928, Page 11

HOSPITAL EXPENDITURE

TIER GALL FOR. FJCONOMY. SPEECH BY DR. VALENTINE. lliY TELEGRAPH—PEEKS ASSOCIATION 1 AUCKLAND, May 1. “Tli© time has corn© when we have got to call a halt in hospital expenditure, said Dr. T. H. A. Yalintine, Di-rector-General of Health, in an address to members of the Auckland Hospital Board to-day. Dr. Valintin© said he had visited many part's of New Zealand lately, and he had become exceedingly unpopular because of his appeals for economy. However, he had been fairly successful in curtailing expenditure. He had visited several hospitals and they all required more money. The question was, could they afford to go on as they were doing? Dr. Valihtine referred to the great expenditure incurred in connection with the upkeep of sanatoria, especially in the South Island. The number of sanatoria in the South Island was double that in the North Island, although the population was much smaller. With the exception of South Africa New Zealand had the lowest death-rate from consumption of any country, yet in proportion to population New Zealand had the largest number of beds. He had beoti very concerned about this and the matter" was. how being inquired into by medical men. ERECTION OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES BLOCK. BOARD CONSIDERS MATTER URGENT. AUCKLAND. April 2. The Director-General of Health, Dr. Valentine, was strongly criticised _by members of the Auckland Hospital Boarrd for advising the board to modify its plans and curtail its expenditure.in connection with th/3 erection of an infectious disease® block at an estimated cost of £40,000. The board decided to • allow the amount to stand on the estimates, the chairman, Mr Wallace, .informing Dr. Yalintine that it was prepared to go. to the Prime Minister, if necessary, to obtain its ends in a matter of vital, importance. Dr Maguire, medical .superintendent, said that be had advocated at new infectious diseases hlock for many yeans. All available .accommodation was now taken, and be did not know-what t hey were going to do if they had any more eases. The matter required very urgent ■attention. At present they, had 'to put .patients in corners of rt!h© verandahs and Tooms and screen them off. This wa® a makeshift business and was da.ngerns.

Tlio board approved the estimates, with £40,000 for an infectious disease® block.