Approved Scheme For North T.B. Consultant Service

Northern Advocate, 22 May 1944, Page 4

Approved Scheme For North T.B. Consultant Service

After rescinding a motion passed in May of last year approving a scheme for a consultant tuberculosis service in Northland, the Whangarei Hospital Board at a special meeting today decided to approve a scheme for a tuberculosis service outlined in a letter to the board at its last meeting by the Medical Officer of Health (Dr. C. W. Dixon). In his letter to the board, Dr. Dixon said that the Auckland Hospital Board could be approached with a view to arranging the release of the senior assistant tuberculosis officer (Dr. J. N. Hinds) for one week once a quarter for consultant tuberculosis work in Northland.

It was intended that Dr. Hinds should spend the time in Northland at Whangarei, Mangonui, Bay of Islands and Kaipara boards’ hospitals. Hokianga and Whangaroa were not included as facilities for chest X-rays were not there available. Dr. Hinds would be without pay from the Auckland board and the Northland boards would have to pay his salary for the week, as well as £2/2/. an hour for all clinic work, plus a maintenance allowance of £l/1/- per day, plus travelling allowance for his car should same be used. It is proposed that these costs be divided among the boards in proportion to the time spent in each location. The total cost was estimated at between £220 and £240 per annum, of which the Whangarei board's share would be approximately £65, of which 60 per cent would be recoverable from Social Security funds.

Minister’s Disagreement The position concerning the service was outlined for the benefit of mw members by the chairman (Mr J. A. S. Mac Kay). “When this matter was before the board about a year ago, it was felt that it was the thin end of the wedge for making all specialist services an additional burden on land owners,” he said. “It therefore agreed to the proposal conditional on the Minister agreeing that future extensions would not be provided in this way. The Minister would not, however. agree to this condition. “The principle involved was considered of sufficient importance to call a conference of all hospitol boards in the northern part of the North Island to consider the question. The conference was held at Auckland and was unanimous that the service was overdue and urged that it be proceeded with at once; that the people were more than willing to provide the whole of the finance required; and that instead of adding to the already heavy burden of landowners, the money be collected, through one, or both, of the funds to which every section of the people, both European and Maori alike, contribute: the Consolidated and Social Security funds. The departmental officers present promised to bring down proposals, more in accord with delegates’ views, and call another conference to consider them. This has not been done, however. “Since that time there has been evidence of increasing unrest in widely separated districts in New Zealand, due to the continuance of wnat is considered an unfair form of finance for hospital and other health purposes. At the last meeting, I proposed that the matter be held over till the full text of the Minister’s proposals shall have been received and that the whole question be submitted to the contributing local bodies, the medical profession, organised Labour and the New Zealand Farmers’ Union for their co>isidered opinion. Since then the Bay of Islands Board has decided to consider the mutter when the full proposals come to hand.”

Ccst To Board Details of the Minister’s scheme, given in confidence to thef board, had not yet been received, said the chairman. The scheme before the board would be but a minute part of iho major scheme. Rescinding of a previous motion which stood in the way of adoption of this scheme was proposed in a notice of motion moved by Mr H. L. Younger, and carried without discussion.

Mr Younger moved that the scheme outlined by Dr. Dixon should be approved by the board. On several occasions attempts had been made to .‘secure a consultant service for Northland and the board should take advantage of this scheme. The cost tc the board would be about £65, less about 60 per cent, but if the board had to pay the whole of £65 it would be well worth while. The Minister’s scheme might fake 12 months to be put into operation but the scheme before the board could be introduced almost immediately and later could be absorbed in the major scheme. Seconding the motion, Mr J. G. Draper said he hoped it would mean great benefit to Northland, where the incidence of tuberculosis was high. This disease was responsible for more deaths in New Zealand than any other disease and, although the germ had been discovered 60 years ago, it was still an unconquered enemy. To turn down the scheme would be to do a disservice to the community. “All agree that a special service should be provided for the people, not only in tuberculosis," said the chairman. It was laughable that a cost of £6O only should be involved and there should be no delay. The Government had promisel five years ago that a service would be provided and the only question was responsibility of payment.

Payment By All The Auckland confference on the subject had considered that all the people should pay and representatives of all sectiois of the community, European and Maori, should provide the money. He did not want it to be thought that any section of the community was opposed to provision of such a service which could have been introduced last year if the conditions laid down by the board had been agreed to by the Health Department. To carry out a specialist service throughout the Dominion would cost thousands of pounds and it w'as merely a question of who should provide the money. The . board was there to oppose or approve a principle.

Regretting that details of the Minister’s proposals had not yet come forward, Mr L. Reynolds said the board had been told they would be available before the local body elections, blit that now looked doubtful. The Minister’s scheme was large and it was not likely it would coine into operation before the end of the year, while the local scheme could be brought in almost Immediately. Later the maj oxscheme could absorb the local scheme. Any scheme which would relieve suffering should be adopted, said Mr G. O. Dysart. Mr J. C. McKay said that advantages of a good scheme far outweighed the cost. The board could only administer hospital affairs as the law allowed and the law said that ratepayers had to find the money, and until the attitude of the Government changed the board would have to pro-

vide for the scheme. The people could still fight tooth and nail to get the anomaly removed. Contending that all cost should be met out of the Social Security funds, Mr W. J. Bell said .that nevertheless such a scheme as that befor'e the board should proceed. Even with the Minister’s major scheme the ratepaypayers would not be relieved of the payment burden. Although payment should be made by the whole of the people that should not be allowed to delay the" persent scheme, Mr H. Feaver stated.

By adopting the scheme the board did not sacrifice the right to press for the whole of hospital costs to be provided by the Government, said Mr T. Griffin, who supported the motion. Agreeing that a principle was involved, Mr Younger said that the board had been endeavouring to get a scheme started but its efforts had been frustrated by the department Ratepayers would still have to provide under the Ministerial scheme, and the scheme brought forward by Dr. Dix<sn should be supported; The motion adopting the scheme was approved without dissent. *