OTAGO HOSPITAL BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 3886, 4 September 1928, Page 15

OTAGO HOSPITAL BOARD.

DUNEDIN MEDICAL SCHOOL. DEPUTATION TO MINISTER OF HEALTH. WELLINGTON, August 31. Messrs T K. Sidey, J. Horn, and J. M. Dickson, M.P.’s, waited ’on the Minister of Health (Mr J. A. Young) to-day regarding matters connected with the Otago Hospital Board. Mr Sidey brought before the notice of the Minister three points. The first was in connection with an amendment that had been made in the law in regard to the period of qualifying for relief in a hospital district, the period having been altered from one year to three months. That, Mr Sidey explained put more expense on the local board, and prevented it from obtaining a refund of the cost of such relief from the district from which the patient came. There was a further disability under the altered law, in that a refund could only be obtained from a board of an adjacent district, whereas formerly it could be obtained from any board. The second matter was that a large contribution should be made to assist the boards in the larger districts in providing for the special departments they had to establish. The third matter was in reference to the Otago Medical School and its research work. Tins was a Dominion institution, and greater facilities were required. The Minister said that was a matter for the University Mr Sidey said the Minister of Education had refused to assist. Mr Young, in reply, said that the first question was really a matter between trie boards. The alteration in the law had been made at their request, and only Napier and Otago had been opposed to the change. However, he understood that a change had since taken place in the minds of the boards. The matter would be considered at the next hospital conference, and he would be legislate for any equitable proposal. In regard to special departments at base hospitals, for which a subsidy was asked, he had not given that matter consideration. There were various points of view, and he would like to look into them. In regard to the third matter, connected with the Medical School, he would like to have some evidence. He understood the trouble , had arisen through the subdivision of the district, the Dunedin Hospital being now unable to provide sufficient patients for the Medical School. He understood there was a disposition to kept patients unduly long in the Hospital in the interests of the students as a result of the shortage. Statistics would show that in regard to Waipiata, mentioned by Mr Horn, increase.d accommodation had been provided there. The accommodation was ample in every way.