SIZE OF THE HOSPITAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19924, 18 April 1928, Page 12

SIZE OF THE HOSPITAL

QUESTION OF ITS FUTURE.

DISCUSSION BY BOARD.

OFF-SHOOTS IN OUTER AREAS.

;THE CHAIRMAN'S OPPOSITION.

Tlio increasing pressure on accommodation at Auckland Hospital and the question whether it was necessary to establish a relief hospital in an outer area of the city were discussed by the Auckland Hospital Board yesterday. Mr. M. J. Coyle said there was considerable talk on the question whether the hospital was becoming too large. He claimed it would cost the ratepayers £500,000 to build another hospital. The present hospital could easily bo extended. Even if another hospital were set up in the suburbs he did not believe the people would go to it. They would go to the base hospital, believing they would receive the best treatment [here. He thought it would bo unwise to build another hospital. The present institution would serve for a number of years. Tremendous cost would be involved in establishing another hospital, and the people would not "get the goods." Mr. M. J. Savage said there was something to be said for decentralising their efforts. Where they would find a few going in from outer areas to be treated ai, the base hospital, he believed the majority would prefer to be treated nearer home. "We do not want to rush at any decision in this matter," he said. "We want to analyse the position and not be dogmatic about it." Mr. Savage added he favoured a system of cottage hospitals in outer areas, thus making provision for those who lived in suburbs. He did not think it right that they should concentrate the .whole of their attention on the base hospital. It was their duty to make medical provision for people living in the country and make it undesirable for them to go to the base hospital and bo a burden to everyone. The chairman, Mr. W, Wallace, said many eminent authorities liad visited New Zealand, arid he quoted the views of Dr. McEachern, of America. This authority had said the accommodation at Auckland Hospital could easily be increased to 100U or 1200 beds. Mr. Wallace emphasised the value of having good roads, which assisted materially in hospital control. The policy of the board had alwavs been to assist those in the back blocks. They had a hospital at iWarkworth, which had been the cause of a good deal of trouble in controlling. They also had district nurses at various places. Ho declared it would be impossible to equip country hospitals with the same facilities as the base hospital.