TUBERCULOSIS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18543, 2 May 1922, Page 7

TUBERCULOSIS

FACILITIES FOR TREATMENT IN THE NORTH.

POSITION IN SOUTH ISLAND. (Fkou Ora Own Cobbesfondibt.) f , WELLINGTON, May 1. Ihe statements 'made by Dr Blaokmore, of Christchurch, regarding the want of facilities for the treatment of tuberculosis in Now Zealand were recently brought under the notice of 'the Minister of Health (the Hon. C. J. Parr), who called for a report on the subject from the head of the department. In a memorandum on the subject the Director-general of Health points out that it is unfortunate, but no doubt unintentional, that Drßlnckmore’s report conveys a false impression concerning the facilities available in the North Island so far a» sanatorium facilities are concerned. The inference drawn from, Dr BlAekmore's statement ia that_ at the present time there is no sanatoria in commission in New Zealand, except those controlled by the North Canterbury and Otago Hospital Boards This, of course, is quite- misleading, because there are two sanatoria in the north being administered by . the Health Department, and the accommodation in each is available to all the Hospital Boards in the North- Island. In the Pukeroa Sanatorium, at Waipukerau, there is accommodation for 176 men patients. Originally a military institution, it lias been for some time under the administration of the Health. Department. The number of service patients ,ie steadily decreasing, so That the accommodation available for civilians is steadily increasing. Every hospital board in the North Island knows that this sanatorium exists, and, that they can avail themselves- of its facilities. Tlie'n there is the Otaki Sanatorium, wliero there are 40 beds available for women. This institution is also available for patients from North Island hospital?. Both these sanatoria are administered by medical officers who have had special experience and training in "regard to the 'treatment of tuberculosis. In addition to‘this provision special accommodation fc provided by many of the hospital boards, of thd North Islßnd. - In regard, to adiriitled for observation with a view to determining their suitability for admission to a sanatorium or other;rise, and also in regard to cases in the ultimate, or penultimate, stages of the disease, jno fewer than six boards make good provision in this direction. They are-Auckland, Wellington, Napier, Hamilton, New Plymouth, and Palmerston North. It is- recognised that the establishment of clinics is a step that must be accomplished as early as possible at both Auckland and _ Wellington, and it is obly the financial stringency and the necessary retrenchment of - staff that has prevented! steps from being taken. It is, of course, recognised that once the treatment of tubercular patients."has been commenced the responsibility of the State cannot end when the patient is discharged from the sanatorium> and ..that facilities should exist whereby. he can be kdpt in touch either with a clinic or a. nurse working under a district health officer. In regard to the establishment of a sanatorium in the South Island progress,- had admittedly been slow for two reasons; (1) The difficulty of getting a number of different hospital boards to agree to a.policy of co-ordinated action; andf2)the difficulties under which the country is placed at present from a financial {Joint of view, Phe .urgency of the problem is. however, recognised, and it was recently decided to call a conference of hoards - interested with a view to the adoption of concerted action. This conference will, be held at Timaru about the. end of the present month. The ch'd medical officers of the department, and possibly the Minister, will, attend it.Mr Part, added, that he hoped that as a result of this conference a sanatorium would be established in a selected positron m Central Otago to meet the needs of the South Island.