HOSPIIAL TRUSTEES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2437, 28 November 1900, Page 11

HOSPIIAL TRUSTEES.

The monthly meeting of the HospitalTrustees, which was held at the Hospital on the 21et' inst., was attended by Messrs *^liller (chairman), Green, Myers, Wright. Brown, and Wills. An apology was 'made for the absence of Mr Robin. PHTHISICAL CASES. The Chairman said the only thing 'arising out of the minutes was the matter of phthisical cases upon which a deputation from the medical staff had waited upon the trustees at last meeting. The House Committee had had some little talk amongst themselves with regard to the matter, and the few remarks he would make were simply based on the conclusions that they had 'come to. ' "They felt that anything they could do in furthering the request of the staff made at last meeting would be of a most primitive and temporary nature, and they thought it would not be advisable to take it in hand at all. To do anything like giving a proper test would mean the expenditure of a considerable amount of capital, and a considerable augmentation of the staff of the hospital in the shape" of nursing and so forth. So far as the first part of it was concerned, the trustees knew they had really no money in hand to .carry put any alterations and provide nursing accommodation. It \rcrald necessitate providing a

greater ■jmmber of nurses, and woul<f also necessitate accommodation for them, and - thi.' - -accommodation was already taxed to its utmost limit. He regretted that they were not able to do something in the matter, and if they did, as her had already said, it would be of a very primitive nature, and likely to show -no good result. He was strongly of opinion that ifc -was ■ a colonial matter, aiuL one that should be taken up by Government, who should provide a sanatorium for such cases. While they did not actually refuse to do anything, they felt that anything they might do woiild tend to no good end, and would be rather astumbling block in the way of anything Government might be inclined to do. He thought the medical men of the town should make strong representations to Government, , backed up by the trustees, to give the thing a thorough test. They must remember it was not a question of providing for male consumptives 'only. There would be femal« consumptives as well, and that would double the cost. Dr Colquhoun had a few cases in the hospital, but he (the chairman) did not know what success he was meeting with. Open-air treatment -was gone in for so far aa circumstances would allow. Mr Wright : Another thing is that the hospital is not a proper cite. The' Chairman : I think our staff asked for" something of a temporary nature, but you will see how' difficult it would be to carry ifc out. Mr Myers quite, agreed with the chairman'^ remarks. If they started a hospital on the. same system as the Nordrach they would be inundated with consumptives from all parts, of the colony. It was no experiment. It had been carried on in largp German towns with great success, and- had fasen brought into use in many other parts of tTio world. There wa3 an institution of th'.s kind -at Whare Flat, but only males ■were received there. The greatest sucee&s had been met with,' every case being cured, or some relief given. There had not been a death in the two years. Of course it was too expensive for poor people, and he thought the colony should take the matter up. Tire cost should not come oufc' of the pockets, of the ratepayers of Ihinedin. , Mr Wills said tlie question was, Were they not responsible for-.the care of the sick pooir^ of Dunedin? He thought they should try to holp the medical staff, and should approach. Government to see if they would not grant some - contribution towards the erection of some place. Mr Myers : It would have to be built abso« lutcly on the Nordrach principle. Mr Wills : The question is, Who is to make representation to the Government? The Chairmen : The medical men, of course Mr Wills: I don't know that. It might come from the trustee's. If the Government pays, "We are not prepared to do anything," thafe relieves us of any further responsibility. The Chairman : I don't think it is a question for- -the- Hospital. Trustees, or. the .'medical staff either. I think it is a question for the whole of the medical men of Dunedin and of the Otago district ; in fact, of New Zealand . as a whole. What we can 3o.is to give th©. medical gentlemen of the town .all the .sup-■port-we-can. If it is to be done by any publio" 'body, it.might.be for the Hospital Board. •It - was resolved .to write to the .medical staff on.. the. lines suggested By 'the trustees, the Chairmen mentioning that that was the view taken .by some, of the medical men .of th» , town.