HOSPITALS IN WAIKATO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19459, 15 October 1926, Page 14

HOSPITALS IN WAIKATO.

TREATMENT AT HUNTLY. QUESTION ONE OF FINANCE. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. "J HAMILTON, Thursday. Keen disappointment was expressed by members of a deputation representing Huntly residents, which waited on the Waikato Hospital Board to-day, at the decision of the board in declaring the Huntly Hospital a, maternity hospital only. Mr. W. C. E. George said the original agreement between the miners' medical associations and friendly societies of Huntly on the one hand, and the Hospital Board on the other, was that the hospital should be to accident and medical cases as well as to maternity cases. The miners'"mediea.' associations were willing to pay £6OO a year to the Hospital Board. The Sunshine League at Huntly had been sewing clothes and doing other work for prospective mediral and accident cases. The Huntly people wanted a resident surgeon appointed to the hospital, whose services wpuld be available to patients. Apart from what the miners' associations wero agreed to pay, the residents of the town would probably contribute a- further £2OO. Mr. F. Harris said the Huntly people realised that the Hospital Board'was not to blame for the change in the plans regarding the designation of the hospital. It was quite understood that major operations and X-ray treatment could not he carried out at Huntly, but there were many other cases that the people considered should be dealt with there. The chairman, Mr. C. Johnstone, said the hospital cost two and a-half times more than was first intended. The whole question was one of finance. The Hospital Board was anxious to help the Huntly people in every way possible, and would be glad to have a statement in writing showing what the Huntly people were prepared to do and what they wanted. It was stated that the Huntly people would be quite satisfied if one >t the present Huntly doctors was appointed surgeon to the hospital. The miners' associations and friendly societies of Huntly were willing to assist in the matter. Mr. J. J. Ryburn suggested that if the Huntly people guaranteed 50 per cent, of the fees, the board would have assured finance and would be in a better position to deal with the matter. If was decided to defer consideration of the subject until the Huntly people had defined their requirements and had stated what they were prepared to offer. PROVISION FOR NATIVES. DEPARTMENT NOT RESPONSIBLE. [OX TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] HAMILTON. Thursday. At a meeting of the Waikato Hospital Board to-day advice was received that there were 73 vacant beds at the Pukeora Sanatorium, 20 at the Queen Mary Hospital and 12 at the Otaki Sanatorium. The Director-General of Health informed the board that the value of standing timber is now to be included iu the valuation roll on which hospital boards compile their hospital levies. The Native, Department wrote stating that it did not hold itself responsible for the treatment of natives in hospitals or sanatoria. It was decided to open the To Kuiti Hospital on November 25, and to invite the Hon. J. A. Young, Minister of Health, to perform the opening ceremony.