THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1905 THE DUNEDIN HOSPITAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13209, 16 February 1905, Page 6

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1905 THE DUNEDIN HOSPITAL.

A proposal of very considerable importance to the community was the subject of a discussion yesterday afternoon between the Trustees of the Hospital and a deputation representing the honorary medical staff at that institution. ' For many years it has beo v n< recognised that the provision existing in tho Hospital for'the treatment of medical easos has been, to put it mildly, not so satisfactory as could be 'desired.' To go no further back, the Boyal Commission that was appointed in itjy'ti to inquire into the condition of the Hospitftj, particularly with to the allegation that -- portions of the premises were insanitary, condemned the.building for the reason that it was constructed on the block system, which was, the Comnijssioners sajd,} " % dangorpus and expensive style of building for the purpose." Various measures, of reform were suggested by the -Commission, and, as'J-far as, the available means have permitted, these recommendations have been carried into effect.' A surgical ward, a special children's wnt'll, and "a nurses'-' home, apart-;'a|togethpr-from other'-improvements,- have been erected since' the .Commission reported, and the provision of these additions has' had tho effect of materially, increasing the: pfQcienoy of the ■ Hospital.. > The' medical ward, however, remains- to-day

ill the olcl portion pf the -prefliisps—the portion wfiich it has jong 'been in cbntemplatipn.tq utilise solely for adminis- • trative purposes. No one can hp content trf see it remain' there longer than can .be helped. Dr Cojquhoira pointed out yesterday that ' the accommodation which it presents .for the treatment of medical cases is 110$ such as admits of the most advantageous results being obtained.; Tho ventilation is defective, and in other- respects it fglls tp cqiifprni to..- modern requirements. It suggested by Dr Batehelor that, this circumstance might. bo sufficient in critical cases to turn the scale against the recovery of the patient, and, if that be so-rand it may readily bo and if the existing conditions are, as was also said, calculated to retard convalescence, it is unnecessary to say another Word in support of the argument for the provision of a pavilion for the of medical cases. Where the interests of tho patients demand that fresh arrangements shall be made for their accommodation it is simply imperative that a vigorous effort ho instituted to that end. Dr Colquhoun showed,. however, tlmt tliore are other reason;!—the urgency of which is,'we are sure, fully recognised hy the public-r why the proposal for the erection of a special medical ward should copimand warm sympathy. The Dunedin Hospital is iii the peculiar position of being a solipol o£ medicine as well.as an institution for the treatment of suffering humanity, 'l'he only luedical .school in New Zealand, uie importance which attaches tp it on that account is ever increasing, and it is most desirable that no means shall be neglected whereby it | may hp fully equipped to satisfy all the requirements which it, as «'a national concern,' may legitimately be .expected to fulfil. From this point of view, upon which Dr Colquhoun justly lam great stress, the argument in favour of the organisation of a movement for the provision of additional accommodation, of alsind approved by, modern science, for the reception of mcdical cases derives strong support. Soveral improvements are required in the Hospital, and Dr Harnett indicated that some of them are of no-small moment. >IVffare justified ip concluding,, however, that in the opinion of the mcdical staff the most urgent necessity is the erection of a medical ward, and we believe tho public will agree that the case that was presented yesterday in favour of the adoption of measures to secure that .this additional accommodation shall be provided was quite irresistible. The cost would, it must he acknqwleclged, be heavy—the Chairman of tho Hospital Trust estimates it at £10,000,—but the members of the modipal staff seem sanguine that, with tho aid of the Government subsidy, a sufficient fund can bp raised without very rnnch tjifficulty, and we are satisfied that the community may be ejepended upon to respond liberally whenever an appeal is made to it for subscriptions towards this object. The Trustees, it is satisfactory to observe, wpre apparently sympathetic, and it will be certainly surprising if any obstacles to the project shoiild be raised by them