INFLUENZA EPIDEMICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19344, 3 June 1926, Page 10

INFLUENZA EPIDEMICS.

PROVISION OF HOSPITALS. BURDEN ON THE BOARDS. ASSURANCE FROM MINISTER. [BY TELF.G P.APH. -r-OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] WELLINGTON, Wednesday. ' A discussion took place at the meeting ■of the 'Board of Health on the responsibility of hospital boards in the e% T ent of 3 recrudescence of serious influenza in the Dominion. „ The matter was brought forward in the first place by Mr. Murdoch Fraser, the representative of hospital boards on the Board of Health. He stated 'that hospital boards had been circularised by the-department, recommending them to be in readiness with hospital equipment, etc., to meet a possible outbreak of influenza. He asked whether the department could furnish any more definite statement regarding the possibility of such an outbreak. Under the law as it now stood hospital boards were only responsible for the treatment of disease while local authorities were responsible for the prevention of disease. If, therefore, any serious epidemic occurred the hospital boards would be called upon to provide temporary hospitals, etc., and to meet the cost. It,was difficult for hospital boards to face such additional expenditure,' because the law required them to frame estimates of their expenditure at the beginning of the year and they could not foresee such things' as epidemics. He asked whether some more definite information could not he supplied. Sir James Wilson spoke in similar strain ,and 'asked that the Government should give an assurance that in the event of an epidemic occurring the. costwould be borne by the Government, as was done in the case of the 1918 outbreak.

Sir Lindo Ferguson made the suggestion that hospital boards should be allowed, when framing their estimates at the beginning of the year, to include a sum for epidemic purposes, such sum to be held in reserve and to be used only for epidemic purposes. Dr. Wait, deputy-director-general of health, stated that it was impossible io say - definitely whether there- would be another outbreak of serious influenza. Tho department, in circularising hospital boards and local authorities were merely taking precautions. His own opinion was that we would no doubt experience the usual prevalence of seasonal influenza of the mild type but that there were no indications at the present time to justify the conclusion that a serious epidemic was about to break out.

Continuing, he said the recent press reports of influenza in Melbourne and New South Wales had been investigated by his department and it had been found that these referred to local outbreaks of simple influenza. At the same time the department was exercising the utmost vigilance. The chairman of the hoard, Hon. J. A. Young, Minister of Health, then dealt with the financial position of hospital boards in the matter. He appreciated the, position the boards were placed in as set out by Mr. Eraser and Sir James Wilson and while he was not in a position to give any definite promise in the matter they could rest assured that in the event of any grave national emergency arising, such as a widespread epidemic; the Government would do.the fair thing by the hospital boards. ; L As regards Sir Lindo Ferguson's suggestion that boards should be allowed when framing their estimates to include a certain amount for epidemic purposes, he stated that it was impossible for the Government to agree to.a proposal of that kind. It was quite true that the estimates of hospital boards, as submitted to the department at the' beginning of each financial year," were reviewed most carefully and it would be appreciated that such a review was most necessary. To allow the boards to include in their estimates a sum over and above the amount required under, normal circumstances would, in his opinion, be wrong in principle. If they were faced with the position of having to combat another serious epidemic the position of hospital boards, as set out _bv the various speakers, would not be overlooked.