HOSPITAL BOARD

Otago Witness, Issue 2784, 24 July 1907, Page 58

HOSPITAL BOARD

The usual monthly meeting of the Hospital Board was held the same afternoon. Present: Messrs P. Miller (in the chair), M Stevenson, J. Clarke, F. Anderson, W. Wilkinson, J. Arkle, J. Mill, and J. Mosley.

CORRESPONDENCE.

The District Health Officer wrote calling the board's attention to the death of the child M'Pherson at Forth street recently form diphtheria, and the circumstances surrounding the same. — Received. MEDICAL ASSOCIATION'S LETTER.

Drs B. R. Blomfield and D. Colquhoun wrote:— "We have been deputed by the Otago Branch of the British Medical Association in New Zealand to urge upon your board the immediate need of providing accommodation for indigent consumptive patients. Otago is now the only province of New Zealand which has not made, or is making, such provision. As you are aware, the Hospital by-laws do not permit the admission of such cases, nor is the Hospital a suitable place for them. Tli is condition of affaire is not only cruel to the patients, but it ie full of danger to the people among whom they live and spread infection. We respectfully .make the following suggestions: (1) That part of the three and a-half acres at Peliohet Bay, conceded by the Government for the purpose of erecting accommodation for infectious cases be set aside for building accommodation for about 20 cases of consumption. (2) That arrangements be made with Dr Stepheneon, the proprietor of the Rock and Pillar Sanatorium, or other private sanatorium, for the reception of such patient* as may be deemed 6Uiteble by the medical authorities of the Hospital, and who are unable to pay the fees for such treatment. (3) That the arrangements be oarried on in connection, with the Hospital, and that administration and the cere of the patients be submitted to the Hospital Trustees and their medical staff. We believe that the proposed site is a. ssuitaible one— it is free from dust, gets plenty of eun, and ie near enough to Dunedin to ensure proper medical attendance, nursing, and other provision for the patients. If, in your opinion, our presence at the meeting of the board is likely to be of service, we shall be glad to attend. Mr Moaley eaid he thought that as a matter of courtesy, someone should be appointed to meet these gentlemen in the matter.— Mr Arkle said that the clothing, bedding, and otjier belongings of Mr M Thereon had been destroyed by the authorities without hit consent. It seemed hard that he should not receive compensation. The Chairman : The board havg aft power

in the matter. That rests entirely with the local authorities.

The Chairman went on to say that the board . had been doing all they could in the matter of a hospital for infectious diseases, and he* did not see that they could do anything more. He was fully, alive to the importance. of. the movement. The Hospital Board had been blamed for apathy, but thi6 was most unjust. The t>oard had been battling to -get a sit« v for «uch a hospital for the last two years. He was going to Wellington on Saturday, and the first thing he would do would be to ccc about the lease for this site. He wished to clearly demonstrate that the board vas in no way to blame for the delay. The Health Officer could direct that a. special hospital be built for the accommedaiMtn and treatment of infections cases, but what ■was the Hospital Board to do? Hosr- 1 comd they prepare a hospital when they could not even get a site? A voice: It seems to be a regular ootch all round.

It was finally resolved, on the -aiotion of Mr Stevenson; that the -writers of Ac letter be informed that the Hospital Board were already doing everything possible in. the matter; aleo that the Government was the proper authority to apply to in cased of consumption, as it had already ervcted sanitoria for consumptives in other parts of the colony. It was further resofared that this reply be Sent to Drs Blomfield and Colquhoun. The secretary of the Dunedin Hospital wrote ' stating that he. had been directed by the Hospital Trustees to forward a copy of a, resolution passed at their meeting, on July 17, and to ask the Hospital Board to appoint three memljers aa a committee to meet, according *to the request embodied in the resolution, as follows: — "That a committee consisting of 'the chairman and Messrs Tapper and Solomon be appointed to consider the best means of dealing with - infectious cases, and that this committee request the Hospital Board and the hon. 'medical staff of the Hospital to appoint repre-

sentatives to attend a conference on the

Bubject." It wa»3 resolved to -inform the Hospital Trustees that the board had done all 't possibly could in the matter, but at the present juncture did not quite see way to taking steps along the lines suggested, as it believed such a. consultation would be of little use.