A MUCH-NEEDED INSTITUTION.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4208, 17 November 1900, Page 3

A MUCH-NEEDED INSTITUTION.

HOSPITAL FOR CHRONIC AND INCURABLE CASES. VIEWS OF DBS. EWART AND COLLINS. In the opinion of Dr John Ewart, resident medical officer of the Wellington Hospital, a, home for incurables is very much wanton in this city. He told a : ‘Tinies” reporter, however, in the course of an interview at the hospital, that he thought it would he a mistake to call it uy that name. If it were called a home or hospital for chronic and incurable cases, or some name of that kind, it would lie much better. “In this case, B.en,” said the reporter, ‘There's something in a name?” “There is a good deal,” replied Dr Ewart. “It is important not to take away from a sufferer toe hope of recovery. If the institution which the ladies of Wellington have determined to set going were, called a home for incurables’, some of the sufferers sent to it might give up all hope of ever getting well again.” “You have, I believe, often to send chronic and incurable cases away from the hospital?” “Yes; lots of cases are discharged after being in the hospital for some time. Where many of them go to, 1 am sure I don’t know. In one instance that was reported to me a man slept out at the Basin Reserve because he had no place to go to after leaving the hospital. A r ery oiten we keep cases when we should not, simply because the people have no means, and we know that if they were turned out they would be neglected and die.” “Is the want of money their only handicap ?” ‘‘No, sometimes- the disease irom which they are suffering makes it difficult for them to get accommodation. Some of those witu cancer, for example, whose case is probably hopeless, find that nobody is willing to take care of them. “Really, repeated the doctor, ’T don’t know what becomes of some of these people. One woman that I have in my mind was hunted about from one place to another, no one being willing to keep her long. She bad no place she could call home, and she was absolutely penniless." “You are compelled to discharge some of these sufferers?”

“Yes; because we have not enough room in the hospital for acute cases.” “Then there are enough chronic and incurable cases to justify the establishment of an instlitution for their reception ?” “Undoubtedly,” said Dr Ewart. “If such an institution Were started it would be found that there were many more such cases than had been imagined. People generally have no idea of the number of cases discharged from the hospital as being incurable or too chronic to keep there.” “What are included in the chronic cases?” 1

“Well,. among them are persons suffering from tubercular and spinal diseases. Some of these cases are not absolutely incurable, but they require treatment extending over a year, or even two years. There are many eases of diseased spine, in which the disease will in the ordinary course take two or three years to be removed. That can be done in a hospital or some similar institution. Then such patients have a good chance of recovery. If, however, they are not under constant treatment, receiving proner care and food, they go from bad to worse, and die. With constant treatment, and proper care and food, a good proportion of them will, as I have said, recover. We have in the hospital, at different times a large number of tubercular cases among children, which require very prolonged treatment.” “Could consumptive cases be received at this proposed institution ?” “Yes; but they should have a separate ward.” “Do you think the institution can be connected with the hospital i “Yes. The only trouble is that of ground space. We require ground for nurses’ quarters at this moment, and 1 do not yet quite seo where it is to he got. The erection of a fever ward, too, can not long be deferred.” _ “Would a separate institution have advantages?” . , , T ~ * , ■ In many respects it would, 1 think lie hotter to have a separate institution —that is, if there was the money. With a place outside tne city, there would, lor one thing, be more room for grounds. .here, at the hospital, ol course, the grounds are not very extensive, and ,t;pace is valuable. -The question of expense is an important olio?” ••Y. s. ami for that reason I think the institution will have to he connected with the hospital. With a separate institution there would have to be a resident medieal -officer. ■ The building, would bare, to be .-larger than in .the ether case,- because ' provision would ]iive to be made for a kitchen ancl other denartments, as well as for rooms for the 'nurses and servants. On the other band, if the institution were connected with the hospital, these would not he required, and the building would

not need to be so large. Ard if the wards for chronic and incurable cases were under the same management as the hospital, the cost of maintenance and administration would not be anything like so much as it would he if there was a separate institution. There would be a great difference in the annual expenditure in the two cases.” “Then, taking everything into accouni 3mu think the institution will have to be connected with the hospital?” “What provision should bo made at the outset ?” was the next question.. “AVell,” sam Dr Ewart, “that depends on the district to he served.” “It is thought that cases might ho taken, under certain conditions, from places as far away as Wanganui and Woodville, and even from Marlborough and Nelson.” “Then, at the very least, two- wards of twenty beds each would be required. I believe they would he filled almost at once.” ~ r „ ‘•How would they he allotted i “One ward would be for male patients and the other for females.” “What about children?” “To begin with, they would probably have to he with the adults. The providing of a separate ward for children would simply lie a matter of money. Dr Collins, who was present during the latter part of the interview, agreed that there was .urgent necessity for an institution for the reception of dimnic and incurable cases. Ho beliovcc a good many of them now drifted from one hospital to another. In his mind the institution would have to he connected with the Wellington, hospital. He did not see how it would he passible. in the circumstances, to have it separate. There would have to he constant medical attendance and the expense ot this and other services involved put any idea of a separate institution out of the- question for some time to come.