CHILD PATIENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22984, 11 March 1938, Page 12

CHILD PATIENTS

TRANSFER TO WILSON HOME HOSPITAL BOARD CRITICISED [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT]j HAMILTON, Thursday Strong criticism' of the action of the Auckland Hospital Board in transferring two Waikato crippled children to the Wilson Home without the consent of the Waikato Hospital Board was voiced at a meeting of the Waikato board to-day, when correspondence dealing with tlio two instances of unauthorised transfers was received. Letters had been forwarded to the Auckland board declining to guarantee tho fees of the children in the home, stated the secretary, Mr. A. C. Burgess. 1 Endorsing the letters to the Auckland Hospitakßoard, the chairman, Mr. J. J. Ryburn, expressed the opinion that the Waikato board should have been consulted before any transfers were made. Tho children had been placed under the care of the Auckland Hospital Board, the Waikato body guaranteeing the hospital fees. However, no assurance had been given that it would guarantee fees for the Wilson Home, as it had not been consulted in the matter. The chairman thought that the Waikato board should continue to pay just the ordinary hospital feo of 12s a day. "In one of tho two cases the Auckland board's secretary stated that tho patient required a change of air, food and massage treatment," said tho medical superintendent, Dr. M. M. Hockin. " Massage treatment could have' been obtained at tho Waikato Hospital." The doctor had no word of the second transfer to tho home. The secretary advised that an assurance had been received from the Auckland Hospital Board that no other patients under its care from the Waikato would be transferred to the Wilson Home without the consent of the Waikato board. " I will move that in view of the action of the Auckland Hospital Board tho Waikato Hospital.Board should not pay any more than 12s a day in the cases under consideration," said Mr. E. C. Day. The motion was carried unanimously. , *