TUBERCULAR PATIENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17113, 19 March 1919, Page 8

TUBERCULAR PATIENTS.

AUCKLAND DISTRICT HOME. HOSPITAL BOARD PROPOSAL. The erection of a tubercular home in the Auckland Hospital district as soon as a suitable site has been selected was unanimously agreed to by the Hospital Board last evening. The subject was introduced by Dr. Florence Keller in a motion that immediate steps be taken for establishing a tubercular home.

Dr. Keller said a similar motion had been adopted by tho board four years ago, but nothing had been done to givo effect to it. She urged that an option should bo taken over one or more sites, with a view to having them inspected and a pelection made by the Health Department, No less than 299 new cases of tuberculosis had been reported in the city last year, 74 cases having been notified in one month. A considerable number of returning soldiers, would be affected by the scourge, and proper provision should be made for dealing with the cases. Several members spoke in support of tho motion, Mr. P. M. Mackay also ad vocating the establishment of tubercular dispensaries in the city. 'the chairman. Mr. W. Wallace, said the board had always favoured tho estab lishment of a tubercular home, and the Government was to blame for tho delay in carrying out the project that had -been agreed to four years ago. The Government had offered to take all the board's tuberi.cular patients at To Waikato Sanatorium at £1 a week. Tho board had accepted the offer, but the charge had been subsequently increased to 30s a week, and later tho Waikato institution had been entirely devoted to soldier patients. It was imperative that a home for tubercular patients should be erected immediately in tho Auckland district and action would be taken forthwith to acquire a saitablo site for the institution.