HOSPITALS MAINTENANCE

Otago Witness, Issue 3566, 18 July 1922, Page 57

HOSPITALS MAINTENANCE

POOLING SCHEME FAVOURED. OTAGO'S POSITION. WELLINGTON. July 14. At the conference of Hospital Board delegates a remit was considered from Otago on the subject of the amalgamation of Hospital B'oards generally throughout New Zealand for the treatment of consumptives with a view to pooling tlie capital cost and maintenance thereof in proportion to rateable capital value of the districts. The matter was introduced by Air A. F. Quelch (Otago), who, in support of the scheme, said that, while some districts were making provision, others were making little or no provision, with the result that, while a number of cases were arrested, every year a number of fresh cases were corning on. Something must be done by which they could bring them all in from every district so that, they could receive treatment. It was tlie function of Hospital Boards that they should amalgamate for rhe purpose of arresting and preventing the disease. Mr YV . K. S. Knight (Otago) said that th° department had stated that it was impossible in view of the present financial condition of the country to nationalise the work, but it would be a fairly equitable scheme for ratepayers and local bodies. The Government would provide its quota through Hospital Boards so that if was the nearest possible thing to nationalising the system of dealing with consumption. Dr Valintine (Director-general of Health! said the scheme appealed very much to the department staff. It was the only means of having a satisfactory national campaign against consumption. The North Canterbury Board had a most excellent sanatorium for the treatment of the disease, and >he reputation that sanatorium had got under the direction of Dr Black-more attracted patients fiomi all parts of the islands. This was a fact upon which the board was to be congratulated. Otago had also established a most excellent scheme, but in rhe North Island there were no Hospital Boards which had undertaken responsibility. He did not blame them, because Wellington Hospital Board some years ago established a sanatorium at Otiki which did great good. During the war it was deemed expedient that the department should take it over. It was under the control of the department to this day. A sanatorium had been established at Pukeora or. modern lines, at which soldier cases were treated. Although large Hospital Boards of the South Island had faced their responsibilities, the sanatoria of tho North Island were not under the control of the Hospital Boards. The deparirrient had two institutions in the North Island, and. with the idea of giving effect to- this scheme, they were prepared to hand over these two institutions to Hospital Boards of the North Island and give it effect straight away. it was only by such a scheme as this that they could deal effectively with consumptives. They must have institutions available for even,' consumptive patient in the two islands, and by the pooling scheme they could send a patient who was not doing too well in one place to one of the others. The scheme would give them two institutions in each island, and these would be sufficient for the needs of the dominion for many years to come. It might involve the scrapping of the institutions at Palmerston South, but the wonderful reputation of the climate of Otago would appeal to the South Island so much that it would lead to the closing of the Palmerston sanatorium. He was sure that Otago would join in the larger scheme. In justice to Auckland, as Auckland had no sanatorium, he must, say that some years ago the department obtained a country house at Cambridge which had served for over 23 years. It was closed only tlie other day, Pukeora enabling them to do so. It was not the fault: of the Auckland board. He had never had the courage to recommend the Auckland Board to establish a sanatorium in Auckland, for he was not disposed to regard the climate of Auckland as suitable for such a purpose. He hoped the beards v. ould take up the scheme and let tiie department;. see a system for the treatment and control of tuberculosis that would 1 e second to none in any country.—(Applause.) Mr F. Castle (chairman) said that if boards could run general hopitals, they were equally capable of running sanatoria. Replying to questions, Dr Vali. tine -aid tlie department: would hand over the two North Island hospitals to the North Island boards, but would rather pool them in a national pool. It would require no legislation. for the Act enabled hosnnal boards to combine for the purpose of main tabling institutions. There would be no difficulty about this owing to the excellen understanding boween the boards and tho department. Other speakers supported the scheme, expressing the view that if they asked the Government to nationalise this work and to take over venereal disease they might want to rake over the whole lot to vm/rh mo ' of them would be opposed. 'J hey would not favour doing away with hospital boards. After further discussion, it was resolved that the Department of Health he asked to confer with the movers of the remit to formulate the scheme with details, the same to be circulated to all hospital boards asking them to give due consideration to it. Mr Wallace said that, while he could not pledge Auckland to the scheme, for the two islands, he believed they would support the scheme for each island on the lines suggested. Referring directly to the question of finance the Aiinister of Health said that he thought the boards ought to pool their loan requirements, and thus get better term for a. large amount. It was for the Ain liter of Finance to say whether they cut.id be permitted to go on the London market, but the Government might assist the boards iti getting money from outside sources. He also suggested a conference of boards with the Public Trustee with respect to loans.