HOSPITAL INQUIRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23033, 10 May 1938, Page 18

HOSPITAL INQUIRY

WELLINGTON SCHEME CENTRALISATION FAVOURED MEDICAL PROFESSION'S VIEWS [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Monday The case for the retention of the present site, with development along the lines of centralisation of activities, was presented on ( behalf of the local division of-ilia British Medical Association to the Royal Commission which is investigating the Wellington Hospital Board's building proposals and the present and prospective needs of the hospital district. Arguments for the provision of the community hospital type were submitted by Dr. H. M. Luke, representing the local branch of the British Medical Association, and were supported by Dr. T. D. M. Stout, representing the honorary staff of the hospital. Dr. Luk* considered that the building of a subsidiary hospital at Lower Hutt should not be considered until a base hospital in Wellington was constructed. The Director of the Division of Hoa' pitals of the Department of Health, Dr. R. A. Shore, who gave evidence last week, was cross-examined to-day. Replying to Mr. O'Shea, he said he was of the opinion that the time would coine when the Hutt Valley should have a hospital, but he also believed the provision of such a hospital should not be allowed to take precedence, over the development of a base hospital. The considered opinion of the Health Department was that the present hospital was on the best site available and should not be shifted further north. The superintendent of the hospital, Dr. A. R. Thorne, whose evidence was taken last week, was under crossexamination when the commission ad- j journed until to-morrow.