ST. HELENS HOSPITAL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 277, 27 October 1925, Page 6

ST. HELENS HOSPITAL.

REPLY TO CRITICISM. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Oct. 26. Criticism of the conditions existing •at the St. Helen’s hospitals, made by Mr Morton, National candidate for Auckland Central, has drawn a reply from Dr J. Hughes, medical officer of health. Mr Morton stated that the hospitals were in an overtaxed condition, that no conveyance was provided to take the nurses to cases, and that the Government’s purpose in having hospital boards for their administration threatened to turn them into moneymaking institutions. Referring to St. Helen’s Hospital, Auckland, Dr Hughes said the question of outside accommodation for nurses was now under consideration. He quite admitted that more accommodation was required. The question of extending the present building was also under consideration, but was delayed on account of the proposal that the Hospital Board might take over administration of the institution. Regarding the suggestion of the hospitals being money-making institutions, Dr Hughes said they would have to pay their way. Hospital boards would have to run them, however, for the class of patients for which they were provided. The statement that no conveyance was provided for nurses was quite wrong. In urgent cases, or in cases where a nurse was required late at night, they were authorised to hire a taxicab. In the ordinary course of events they would make use of other conveyances.