PROBLEMS KNOWN

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24131, 25 November 1941, Page 6

PROBLEMS KNOWN

COMMENTS BY BOARD DIFFICULTY OF ACTION A "DON'T WORRY" ADVOCATE A recommendation by the Buildings Committee? that the board inform the Director-General of Health, Dr. M. H. Watt, that many of the matters referred to in his letter had been under consideration long before the inspection by departmental officers ay as adopted by the Auckland Hospital Board last night, when the letter on conditions at the hospital was discussed.

It was also agreed to point out that the board felt it should, have been advised of the officers' visits and that it would have been helpful if the matters referred to wore discussed with officers of the board before the reports were made. A further point will be made that many improvements and beneficial alterations made by the board were not referred to by Dr. Watt.

Examining Tuberculosis Cases Mr. G. T. Parvin said he agreed with certain of the criticisms, and thought that the system under which tuberculosis patients were examined at the infirmary was hardly a credit to the board.

Mr. J. Sayegh complained that the Buildings Committee had made no constructive proposals in its recommendations. If the letter was merely received in the terms suggested the board would be admitting, for instance, that the doctors were overworked. He felt the board should consider the erection of a chest hospital and a children's hospital, and extensions to the Alexandra Home.

Mr. W. A. Bishop said that, while Dr. Watt's letter did not make very good reading, the remedy was not wholly in the board's Hands. "When we try to carry out the department's wishes, on occasions it is the department which holds us up," he added. Tie complained of delay on the department's part in dealing with hospital business.

Mr. Macky's View of Letter Mr. J. V. Macky said he did not think the board should worry much about the letter. If, for instance, the board decided to build a children's home, it would be unable to get the materials. The various problems were known to the board, but with a war on it could not do much.

The chairman, Mr. AUan J. Moody, agreed with Mr. Macky, and said that the board had made a genuine effort to create an efficient institution. Dr. Hilda Xorthcroft said the board's progress had been handicapped by constant interference from and lack of co-operation by the Health Department.

The recommendations were adopted without amendment.