Minister of Health Halts Pleasant Valley Transfer
The Otago Hospital Board has been asked by the Minister of Health, Miss Mabel Howard, not to take any steps to remove shelters from the Pleasant Valley Sanatorium to Wakari until the Minister has had further discussions with the board about the project. Advice to this effect was given in a telegram received by the secretary of the board, Mr J. Jacobs, which was discussed last night.
Mr Jacobs explained that he had been in touch with the Health Department, and had been informed that no one there knew anything about the telegram. He was also told that Miss Howard was ill, and could not be approached on the matter.
The chaii-man of the board, Dr A. S. Moody, said that it seemed strange to him that the Minister of Health had visited Pleasant Valley, and up to noon on the Saturday on which she left Dunedin she was quite satisfied that the patients and buildings at Pleasant Valley should be moved to Wakari. “ There have been some complaints, but the matter is one of urgency,” he added. “We will be faced witn a number of crises soon if the sanatorium is not shifted. I would say that it is our first priority. We have to take the advice of the Director of Tuberculosis, if nothing else. You would think that there would be some policy on tuberculosis in New Zealand announced since he has been back for some months.”
Dr N. H. North inquired if it were not possible to approach the Minister of Health directly on the matter, but was informed that she apparently was ill.
Mrs Norah Ross suggested referring the matter to the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, but was informed that he would merely refer the board back to the Minister of Health. She added that the information appeared to be the answer to those organisations who had applied for buildings and land at Pleasant Valley. Dr D. G. McMillan moved that the matter be referred to the Sanatorium Committee for a report, and this course was adopted.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19480528.2.69
Bibliographic details
Otago Daily Times, Issue 26783, 28 May 1948, Page 4
Word Count
349Minister of Health Halts Pleasant Valley Transfer Otago Daily Times, Issue 26783, 28 May 1948, Page 4
Using This Item
Allied Press Ltd is the copyright owner for the Otago Daily Times. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons New Zealand BY-NC-SA licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Allied Press Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Log in