Objective of Comprehensive Chest Therapy

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26771, 14 May 1948, Page 4

Objective of Comprehensive Chest Therapy

Plans for the provision of a modern chest hospital at Wakari are at present being considered by the Otago Hospital Board. Because of its distance from Dunedin and the difficulties encountered in obtaining staff, the Pleasant Valley Sanatorium is to be closed down, but the board is now discussing whether it will transfer shelters from the Palmerston sanatorium to Wakari or have pre-fabricated ones made instead. The board is determined to make Wakari an up-to-date, attractive hospital, the Daily Times was informed yesterday. It is proposed that Wakari should become a self-contained chest hospital With an administration block and social amenities, including a recreation hall and attractive lawns and gardens. The Otago Hospital Board at vVakari, it was stated, caters for all classes of tuberculosis cases, and not merely suspect or early cases, as is done by the Waipiata sanatorium. Even so, the results at Wakari compare well with what is being achieved at the Central Otago institution. Being close to the Dunedin Hospital and the facilities it offers-, it is felt by the board that much can be achieved at the proposed new chest hospital. The present buildings at Wakari will be the nucleus of the new hospital which will, of course, be entirely independent of the-proposed secondary hospital planned for the city.