THE PUBLIC HEALTH.

Otago Witness, Issue 3768, 1 June 1926, Page 31

THE PUBLIC HEALTH.

WELLINGTON, May 27. A warm tribute to the self-sacrificing service performed by the members of the medical profession was paid by the Min* ister of Health Ithe lion. J. A. Young) when replying to a deputation this afternoon. The Minister said he recognised the profession did a lot of splendid work, but it did not always get credit for it. The services performed by the medical Sractitioners were very often of a philaniropic character, and it was just as well the public should know and appreciate the fact He realised that the doctors were actuated by the very best of motives in giving service to the community in the discharge of their duties, and he felt certain thev always did what they could for their patients.

The same spirit also actuated the hospital boards. Mr Young, while mentioning the subject of hospital boards generally, said he considered there were more hospital districts than were really desirable. From time to time Parliament, from local reasons, had allowed the creation of more hospital districts, but he thought that, as a matter of general policy, it would be more satisfactory if there were fewer such dis tricts, as there would not then be such a burden on the ratepayers. He was against multiplying the number of hospital districts.

The Government and the Health Department were desirous of rendering the utmost benefit in the way of helping the sick and the injured, but there were limitations re garding consumptive sanatoria. The Minister said these were not institutions for tne reception of incurable cases, but were for cases which had a prospect of being cured within a reasonable time, and where the patients would learn how to look after themselves. It was desired that the patients who had been treated in these institutions should become missionaries in guiding and advising other people bow to safeguard themselves against the spread of consumption. It had recently been stated that patients were turned out of the Waipukurau sanatorium after the lapse of a period of six months. That was incorrect and there seemed to be some misunderstanding on the point. The rule was that if a person could not show a prospect of improvement within six months, then such person was not a desirable class of patient for a anatorium. If, however, the patient had been in a sanatorium for six months. d showed sign? of improvement then that person stayed on until he reached the -tage of being able to go out and look after himself. It was wrong to say. therefore, iat a person had to leave an institution at the expiration of six months. Sanatoria were not place? for the treatment of ihionic or advanced cases of consumption It vas the duty of the hospital hoard in ea< h district to look after its advanced consumptives.

Adverting to the general question of hospitals, the Minister referred to Dr MacKaehern, and the report he had nade on the subject, Mr Young said he regarded Dr MacF.nchern as an authority on hospital administration and organisation. Dr Mac Eachcrn had urged from time to time that there should be the utmost co-operation and co-ordination in hospital matters with the obiect of giving <he best service, and he hod also urged that there should be concentration wbemrer this was possible.