TUBERCULOSIS PATIENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25801, 23 March 1945, Page 6

TUBERCULOSIS PATIENTS

CASES FROM SOUTHLAND ACCOMMODATION PROBLEM (Special) INVERCARGILL, Mar. 22. The question of the admission of tuberculosis patients from the Southland district to institutions controlled by the Otago Hospital Board was discussed at a meeting of the Southland Hospital Board to-day. The Otago Hospital Board advised that the Wakari Hospital was full, and that owing to the shortage of staff no waiting patients could be admitted to Pleasant Valley Sanatorium. With the provision of a full staff it was probable that some outside patients would be admitted to the Pleasant Valley Sanatorium. The secretary (Mr A. M. Williams) stated that the Minister of Health (Mr A. H. Nordmeyer) had advised him in February that beds would be available in these institutions. The department was opposed to the admission of T.B. patients to the Frankton Hospital. and the board's plans for shelters and other conveniences at Frankton had been deleted by the department. The secretary went on to say that he had provided the Otago Hospital Board with full details of five waiting cases which the board had on its hands. The recommendation of the executive committee that the letter be noted and that in view of the deadlock now reached the Minister be asked for authority to proceed with the scheme at the Lake County Hospital was adopted.