HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID IN BRUCE AND GLUTHA

Otago Daily Times, Volume 13694, Issue 13694, 10 September 1906, Page 5

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID IN BRUCE AND GLUTHA

SKPAHA.TION FROM THJXEDIN DKCIDHD OX. A SMALL HOSPITAL TO HE ERECTED AT NORTJI C'LUTHA. A spoei.il menling of (lie Cluiha County 1!°!"?'' i VUS founcil Chambers, liateliithii, on Saturday evening for iiio purpose of co!isider:nur whether Cluiha. County should join uiiij Drupe County in mo oslaWishm«iif of a separate litvspititl and charitable aid district. Tlio chairman Of tin- council (Cr Saunders) was unable lo I.'fl present, and Cr M'Laehlan was voted to the chair, f h.; other councillors present being 'Messrs Cumming. til-anger, Clarke, r ii Kdwards. Tile chairman of Bruce Comity Council (Cr ,T. Hosier attended the meeting. 'Ilie Chairman briefly explained the object of t ho 'mooting, and expressed a nope that members of (lie council had made up their minds as to the- course to lie pursued. .

'J'lie Clerk read a letter received from a lmident of Waiivoru South (whoso namo wasrequested to lio withheld), as follows: Waiworn South, September 4, 1300.-In November, 1003, I wns reconnnemled by the local doctor to see a sncoMst in Dunedin, the euro oemp that of a child with post nasal growths. On Itaromhrr L>7 I eallcd on a specialist, who magitnspil the ease and recommended an operalion nt once, his fce for same bein" 25 gumcs J said I could i.ot afford' this, , m( j would havo to take Ihe child !o tho hospital. Tho doctor strongly objected unless 1 could plead (prac tiea:ly) poverty, and at the same time recoraii'.enuca mo to go and fcg the secretary to tlie J'Jospitiil 1 rustics. The recretnry rofmeil lo admit the ease imlras I mada a. statem-mi of inability to pay, and had an endorsement by someone in town kiiown to the secreiarv. J nflered to pay Die ordinarv fliarf-es, but' T"/,!!?> ''"J" l 1™"" admittance. Next day ('.Bth) I tried asain without success; asnin on the 2)th without success. On the ,'Wtli the ease was admitted by the influence or Jlf ,r. A. lorn nee, hospital nnd gaol chaplin. The operation w?. s perlormed on Ihe Ist Decern-' bor, and Die ease discharged on t!»<v 2iul- three* days in the -hospital. ] paid the m'rtiinrv olm-gc3, m\ ni addition ?nvc a daimtion of 1 think. X 2 10s. My difficulty throughout being tli«vt .T wns from the country, ihsro wa9 no plnco ether thuii -an Jiot??! or tr,ttTding-liouse to (•ftke tho ensa to, which, \mder (.be circumstances, were quite unsuitable. To sum up my want was to have a suitable to put tlie case in to bo boarded, for which I was willing to pay n* much as I could, but not' to face tho spftoKist's fee, wiih private hospital chargo3 included.

Cr Hay: Hint does not. throw verv much li?ht on the subject. The child was l-ad-mitted and ilio operation pei-formed alter tho customary rules of tho institution were complied with. What about tho other cases? . ' , pr Nicol: The matter is three veavs old; it is not likely that much additional information in regard to it will be obtained now. Tn reply to Mr Hay's statement. Mr Mcsloy handed in tho following, which-ho had received from tho assistant county clerk at Milton: — About three years a«o a. rntepayer oMIo&nt Stuart Riding Mined Pfekoll called at tha country oflica for a r.ote to get his brother into th? hospital. Hi? brother was at death's door with a serious illnees. Mid hud lain in his housn with no one to attend liiim for weeks, and livongiit him lo Miiion in a dray in his bod, got a note from tho chairman tlirough me. and put. him in the train and went with him. Taking a cab to the hospital, ho gave the nnfe to the porter, and «■» Mr Hums, tho fccretv:y. was not thero he (Paskel!) wm ordered off the promises. Paskoll said: " lj,v brother is firing, ami; lie must get in somewhere." The porter said: "I cannot .do anything, for you -fi.l flip molniiiip;" .(this wjis 6 p.m.). Papl.-01l then r>,ct on to the police, who humanely introduced him to Mr Cluleo, of tl'.e Benevolent Institution, who oi. once put bim in the O.'d Men's lfome at Cavevsham. Aest morning tho poor iinfort\in'P.to wss -too ill to be shitted, and lie passed away in tlio home. The reason tho caso was not given publicity to at t.he time w»s that Paskell never reported it to tho office for some time, until he cfll'ed to pay his rates, when he said- "I obicot to pay tho Ilpsoital and Charitable Aid I '»to i on account- of the treatment- my lrrbiher received, and I asked what it. was. Ho -fold me the above. Mr Taske!! will bear all this out to the letter. Cr Hav: I am informed that Paskoll wes K days m tho Homo before he died. Tho impression loft on tho council at Inst meeting by Mr Mosloy was that he died next, day. Tho letter just read did not say that. The Clerk mado a statement dealing with the amount of tho Olutlia and Bruce contribution? for hospital aiid chwitnblo aid. Or 0 arke asked whero tlu> fumls were to come from to provide an hospital building, and Cr l'.dv,'ard3 followed tho up with nn inquiry if tho Government would subsidise money raised for tho building The Chairman: Tho first v«ar's rove'nue will pay for the buildiinf. Thero will ho no difficulty on that head if members mako tm their winch to po in fov it. I do not think a subsidy could be claimed for tho buildim*.

Or Hav: How much will a Imilding'eost? The Chairman: About, £2000. A resident surgeon, who would not bo allowed private practice, would he required. I would not favour anvihin'i else. Cr Nieol: There aro five local doctors in th« district, whoso services would be available. Cr Tlav pointed out that two nurses and n housekeeper wmld hp required in nddition to a resident ?ur<?eon. He doubted if an hospital to contain, sav. .half a. do?en bed* conlsl he built for JMOOO. Ho had found on makinc inqui'ica from tlie chiirman of the 7Tosrjlf.il Trustees in Dunedin that Mr Moslev's statement was not correct- that subsidy was granted on tho sums naid bv paying patients. J T o w, n5 n I K 0" | n . formed that, in the Dunedin Hospital, if a person nfi'ccted with an incurable trouble appli"d for idmi.won, he was admitted and treated for a few days, and if fit to love, he then wont out to allow somo olhei- patient to como in for whom some flood, might be dine. No ease went to tho Hospital that tho medical men did notsee—ho lnd been assured of that. • Ho understood there was an impression that non-naving patients did rot get the sumo treatment- a.s paying patients. That -fas not. Co.

Cr Edwards: I understand that young students attend to non-paving patients. The Chairman: No one knows whether patients pay or not. That, is a matter that is onlv known to Iho trustees. ' Thero is no ground for snyinu a distinction is mp.de. On the whole, I think members of the council are agreed that patients are well treated in the institution. Wo- havo no desire to separate from the Dunedin Ilosmfa! district, and would not do so if we could net control of our chnvitnblo aid without taking such a course. I think that is the pfcneral fooling of members as far as I understand it. Wo do not fret back half of what we contribute for charitable aid. i Mr Mosloy here rose to again stnlo that in tho Paskoll cofo there wo a a nofo from the chairman of the ]Vuco County Council. Cr Nieol agreed with the chairman that patients in the Dunedin llcsnital got .good treatment. What Iho council hud to consider was: Is jt. ilesirahle to have a separate hospital district. From a financial or any oilier point of view, ho did not think there would lie a great advantage in having a local hosnital, but if they could not havo a charilablo aid district wilhout a hospital then it would perhaps bo better to havo tho llO'nital

Cr Gumming (Wniwera) said Hip difficulty. so far as his riding was concerned, was'that steps wore being taken to establish :i hospital at Core. What ho wished to clearly umlcrslaiid before ho voted for ft hospital in Bruce or Clutha was this: Could his ridinir afterwards break off from the hospital district, and join the Gore district, which would serve thorn liettor? Mr Mosley: The act provides for that. Yon can break off by petition to the Governor. Tile Cltdrman: I do not think we should hieak off inlo tlice nnroehial matters. Wo are consklorinjj whether it i* desirable that Clutha County, us a whole, should join with_ Bruce in establishing a separate hospital and charitable aid district. My own riding may wish to break off. Cr Hay: The question of site is a matter for consideration. Suppose an accident took place at the Taiori end of Brtico County, there would lie no possibility of that case coming to Clutha for treatment: it would go to Ilunedin. A Voicc: That argument applies to a Catlins caw going to Bruco or Dunedin.

Cr Hay: 'i'ho Caliins easo would also go to Dunedin: onee on the train a patient would probably go right, through to I)unedin for belter treatment. For each of such cafe,-; t-lm Bruce-Ciutha <]istrir-t would lm.vo to pay Dunedin district 28s pov week. In my riding the ratepayers ore quite satisfied with the Dunedin Hospital. Tho Chairman: \o doubt special cafea would go to Ihmrriin. '

Or Clarke ugroed with Cr Hay, ami bad come to the conclusion that instead of agitating for sap.ir,itiou thoy should endeavour to eociiro voforni in tho oantrol and administration of liospital and charitable aid. Where tho couatry contributed so' much ii> should have licttier and mcno effeotiyo rqjr€6entation and control on the aSmiißsfcKtfflg bodiai. liis riding 'ma iwt

m favour of MMmrnting from the Dunedin Hospital district. lie urged that no hasty conclusion should he come to, and advo- ' cated delay before eimiiii" lo a decision. Cr Nitnl: Iloiv would Or G'larko get reform? The town would outvote tho (flillitry. I would not. favour joining (he movement if tho hospital is not, placed, close to the CI lit ha: it is the. most central ' position and most suitable for 'the purpose. ' T.Mr Mosley: That, has b<v»n arranged.' jnieo, County is Hilling to meet Clutha in. Ifiat, respect Cr C\arke: Milton is the most suitable.' ! i« - r !,U p, "' ,s of " lc district. lli« Chairman: Tho sit* will bo half,ray otiveen Baldutlia and Stirling, on' tho" nigh ground. . f' 1 ' One of the boroughs will not join imlouit is at Stirlin-. , 1.» i.. C' 1 *'"™": I'ruee has consented to ■ia\o it at it handy place, Hitch as tho ono J lir.ve indicated. ■ • | Mf. Mosley: You die eorrect, Mr iT'i?n a i !r,l r: , c ' ount - v is «'iiiing that the hospital should fce n t Clutha. • ■ ■ '-i A lor some conversational discussion, the Umirmaii callc.l upon Mr .Mosley to inako any statement lie iniijht dp^ire Mr Mosley. in reply to Cr Hay's statemonl. that l.overnmetit subsidy was not ' paul on payments mado by patients, quoted from the {tmpoka Hospital Board's balanc-o fhcet-for 1806 to show that sue.h subsidies' wero paid, tho mio-int of subsidy rccoiwd ' nempp £533 10a 2d. Tho Items woro:-r . £200; maintenance of iwy- ' in:' pMionts, £22?, 8s 6d; llovcrnment subsidy, £503 10s 2d: sundries. £1 4s Bd. Tho' payments of- patients had possibly been'. "i iH patumts' "subscriptions," U* Clarice: .Swindling ihi> Government, evidently!

Cr Hay: 'Xo vsubjfxl}' is paid on patients'pavmonu, . Ah* -Mosley: Well, senilenien, that is a, wrmkln for you. t haw* quoted tlw fiffurea ' ; io tiluw you that I nni iji'iotically coim-t: '*?• t!^ u patients in I)tijj» * n, .!ui I/osuital. .sonic poonlo were irwkyl ami others wm-, not." Ifo was satis-. : tied it. wo.ihl i:<» found to ho cheaper and! .inoro,sntisfiitflo:y if they, as counties, Ikul f'Mifrol of their otvil hospital and rluritah|«: aid. A (;ood deal was msdo oi 'special' t-nses, bill, they li.nl in the district a specialist in eye and ear affections, drai, their other practitioner wove good goncriil luoii. If (hey had their own institution; they would (jet Ihe subsidy, which soinoouo ' elso got now, and with this and oil t.h'V 1 lasis the nmoitiil; lliey now contributed they would havo between £3000 and £4001) per annum, and that amount would bo spent- in tho district instead of oleewhc.ro. . It would bo .said that that was a narroivvioiv of tho matter—that was what would - bo said in Dunedin; but Dunedin was' narrow mid selfish—it aimed at gcttiDß nil tho .money tent thero and the great built, of it spent there. In regard to t.ho state-; mailt fiat one boroiieh had.said it would' not join' In unless tho hospital was at a , certain place, Dr Fitzßerald ami tho Mayor - of had informed him tlmt they' woiild favour the silo noar llalclulha, tj'o, know of hospital eases where - KaitangaUV' jwtient-s went to Tuoncka Tatlior than 10. the Dunedin institution. Tho question of funds for building tlm hcepital had boon,' met by a suggestion from Mr Beijg—vii., - that tho hospital should ho established aiul : orootwl' in memory of tho late Premier,.. If that was dono they could send subscription lists wurid. and' they would .get a large : rum in subscriptions bv this moans, and,' tho (iovemmont would lis stire to grant » subsidy on tho aniounl thus raised. The Chairman: Have 'you any informa-' tion as to tho cost of the building:? Mr >Joflev: Wo hnvo written to Dr Mac-'. Cregor oil Hint matter, hut. 110 reply has . yet been received. In renly to tlie comi-. mmiication sent to Tuapckit. the secretary; writes that ho is not in a position to givo' tho information applied for. '■ . Cr. Clarke moved 'and Cr Hay secomloda motion—"That the ClutJia Council- tak« no action in the matter, and remain ta'W. present," ' - Or Nitol moved as an amendment—"That . tlw council join in with ISrueo Council ill ostablisliinp; a. separate hospital and chari ; '- !tab!o aid district." CV Criimjcr seconded tho amendment oil condition that the hospital site be'fixed* at Mclutha. Jiisf before tlio mbtion and amendment' Wero put, Cr Nicol stated that ho under--stood tho chairman, who was absent, was opposed to tho motion, and he understood' from Cf.Mitchell's remarks at,the previous meeting that ho would support Iho amendment. . . Tho amendment was then put, and tlier« : ; voted [or il—Crs M'Laehlan, - Edwards,-/ Xieol,.' Granger, and Cuming : the votes against being those of Crs Clarke and Hay. Oil the suggestion of the Chairman it. was further resolved that, steps ho immediately lakon to got tho Bruco bill a-mendod, so is ' to includo Clutha County,"arid that the; neccs-ary slops in regard to. advertising, etc., Ik also taken.

HOW A CLTITILY MEDICAL MAN VIEWS THK QUESTION. " Taking advantage of a few Jiours'. stay, in 11,'dclutlia, while waiting for llio above meeting to a representative of tho Times waited upon Dr W. A. Fleming all fins residence, and ill tho course of ait chat tho doctor . expressed, ,];i.s views oh tho position in tho following terms:—

■There is no doubt if a local hospital is eventually decided on all tho local medical men will fall in with it verj> heartily, einddo all they can to help it in ©very possible! way. A considerable number of small hospitals aro scattered , throughout * New Zealand which serve districts very. much smaller in area and less in population roan' a combined Bruco-Clutha - district ■ would bp. 1 At. tho samo time I consider a {trong caeo lias to bo mode out before anything is done to interfere) with the. advantages that arc gained by having an institution like the Dunedin Hospital, especially in these days of express trains when a patient can be .got into Dunedin with a minimum of timo and discomfort; and' wherever tho sito of a looal 'hospital wero fixed, there would be. from itiost P,arl6 oil tho di-slrict, a. certain amount, of timo epent hy patients in -train-travelling. In any caso I think a largo number of patients w'ould prefer to go to Duncdih Hospital evfli) if there wero a local hospital, and that, is a matter that would affect the nnar.ciai aspect to u cort-ain extent. Pi>rsonally, 1 tlo not think tho question' of. a local liosj.iial would eVer have been raised at all if it had not. been that it is understood that a charilablo aid district cannot", lie established wilhout including a hospital district. So far as Iho Dunedin Hospital is concerned, and speaking as an old resident' surgeon, I havo no hesitation in saying.it is an admirably-managed institution. Wo' nmst remember that • i The fiercest light that boats about a. throim. : . And b.ackciis every blot, . applies very forcibly to a largo institution ■ Jiko tho Duiied in Hospital, an<l ifupposmg a, mistako might have bcenmadoasto admission, etc. (and I do not know that it. has been made), that is no argument against. • tho institution m a Whole; none of us ■ is absolutely perfect. Ono onlv wondcri) tliero are not more complaints than there : aro considering the number of patients. that pass through. There has hocn a shortage of beds in the institution when a' rush of patients came, but when tho £16.000. is spent on tho fine new ward in process of erection such causes lor criticism will ho donu away _ with. In these days of advanced specialism, to allow the poorest as well as tho richest to tako advantage of' it- we must have a large institution like tho Dunedin Hospital, wliero there is a splendid staff of specialists in all > depart-, mem.'. Of coiuso it is only a small pro-' portion that demands special treatment, and if a local hospital were established'th would probably ho got over by tho loc, district paying the Dunedin Hospital tho .. l ,e ;' w «* required for all patients outside its own district. Another matter that bears on this subject is the question o! tho Modical School, which is a inctter of vital importance to everyone in the colonv. Already tho clinical material available at [no Dunedin institution is meagre, and -if local hospitals are established, say, south' and north of Dunedin. it will he still furthrr reduced. As it is, the number of patients ill tlio Dunedin Hospital, tho homo of our New Zealand Medical School, is mtioh less than in the other large centres of iho colony. Speaking from memory, I think tho figures are something like f'his:-A virago number of patients in Dunedin linspilal, 104; Wellington, 206; Auckland, 170; Onrifltehurch. 118. And, as licaring on. this aspect of (ho question, I think the timo may arrive when something will havo to ho dciio to allow our students to tako kdvanfago of tho larger number of patients in the oilier centres. As to the charitah'o. aid phase of the matter, I havo not tonsidered that eullioiently to warrant thoexpression of any opinion."