EMERGENCY HOSPITAL ACCOMMODATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24334, 26 June 1940, Page 11

EMERGENCY HOSPITAL ACCOMMODATION

TO THE EDITOR Sir, —May I suggest to the Hospital Board that, instead of using the Children’s Rest Home fcr extra hospital accommodation, some of the University buildings be used for that purpose? During the last war many of the students enlisted and had to complete their education on their return. There is no doubt that the student of today is answering to the call in the same proportion as in the last war. It is, therefore, obvious that a rearrangement of the classrooms and syllabus would, and could, enable the more recently constructed buildings to be available fcr hospital requirements

until after the war. This is a time of sacrifice and it is up to the University . Council to sacrifice a little comfort and rearrange matters so that some of the buildings may be made available to the Hospital Board. Even the Medical and Denial School during the war could be carried on under one roof, leaving the Dental School buildings free for hospital use. The Government could be approached in the matter. The Children’s Rest Home is a home where, during the sickness of the mothers, the children are looked after under the supervision of a Qualified matron and nursing staff- The knowledge that the children are not allowed to run the street and are well looked after morally and physically calms the sick mother’s mind, and helps in a wonderful manner in her recovery. Why is it that anything that is of benefit to the poor and afflicted mothers has to be closed down and turned over to the Hospital Board? These poor people who use the Rest Room cannot afford to pay some one to look after their homes and, if they could, it is doubtful whether anyone could be obtained when wanted who would go into a house without modern conveniences such as those in which many poor people live. Institutions like the Powell Home for convalescent women and the Children’s Rest Home should be the last that should be seized for hospital accommodation. Many of the people who go to universities haverich parents. Surely it would not hurt them for a change to put up with a little discomfiture to make available some Of their vast space. On behalf of the well-being of the mothers who may be bringing a new life into the world or who may be ill I protest against interference with a most necessary institution as the Children’s Rest Home. Is it not true that when some parents are so poor that they cannot afford to pay the small fee charged by Mr Dunkley. the Hospital Board have made up that fee. If the Hospital Board converts the Rest Home into a nursing home then, there being no rest home for children, it will not be called upon to help to maintain their upkeep. Is the Rest Home to be taken over so that retrenchment at the expense of the poor and often most deserving section of the people may be carried out? Is it right that from the poor shall be taken the benefit they have when the mother is sick and give it to the Hospital Boafd. which already is paid by the Government? Why not use the late Sir John Roberts's home at Littlebourne instead of the Children’s Rest Home? —I am. [lt is only fair to say that the Children’s Rest Home has not been “seized” for hospital accommodation. It has been offered by the committee that is in control of it because it was being used to only a small extent. It is not in accordance with fact, either, that the Medical School buildings were not fully occupied during the last war. As it was necessary to ensure a supply of doctors in the Dominion some of the medical students who enlisted were recalled from abroad and those who remained were not allowed to enlist. The wisdom of this decision was shown during the influenza epidemic of 1918. when medical students were distributed throughout the Dominion and rendered invaluable service wherever they were sent. —Ed., O.D.T.]