INFECTIOUS DISEASES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 9261, 26 September 1901, Page 4

INFECTIOUS DISEASES.

♦ THE ISOLATED WARD. QUESTION TO BE CONSIDERED AT SPECLVL MEETING.

At last night's meeting of the Hospital Trustees the question of providing an isolation ward for the treatment of infectious diseases was again considered. The immediate cause of the discussion was the receipt of the following letter from the Town Clerk, dated September 25 : "Gentlemen, — I am instructed to again write you in reference to erection of an isolation ward in connection with your hospital. Although the Council, or any other local authority, have power to erect an emergency hospital, or contract for the use of the existing hospital, as provided for in sections No. 37 to 41 of the Public Health Act, 1900, the Council are of opinion that it would be more in the interests of the public generally if the said ward was erected by the present Hospital Trustees, and in that case all the district would benefit and pay equally,and it would not become a borough monopoly. The suburbs of Kaiti and Whataupoko are now growing into importance, and are just as much in need of an isolation ward as the Borough of Gisborne. Full power is given under sections 30 and 31 of the Hospital and Charitable Aid^ Act. 1885, for the district Board to undertake such a work and levy accordingly, or it may be carried out by your Bo.ird and a levy made in accordance with section No. 61 of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Act, 1886. Therefore, I trust that your Board will again consider this import-ant question." The Chairman (Mr Nolan) said this communication was following on the letter which was considered at the special meeting of tiie Board held a short time ago, when the Borough Council's request for permission to erect a ward was refused. This, however, was a very different thing. They suggested two courses in their present letter. One was that the Charitable Aid Board were empowered to do it, and the other was that the Trustees were empowered to do it under the Act and draw on the Charitable Aid Board for that purpose. The Chairman said he did not think the Trustees had the power to make a levy for the purpose of putting up a new building under the Act in any of it's sections. If the Charitable Aid Board had the power and they liked to take steps, it was for them to consider the matter, and not the Trustees. The section of the Act supposed to give the Trustees) power was section 61, and that was only power given to apply for a contribution towards making repairs, additions, or alterations to *any buildings now in existence, and under their control. What Was wanted was a separate building altogether, which would be a distance away from the Hospital. He did not think the Trustees had power to draw on the local bodies for the purpose. They had more bodies to consider than the Borough Council. The Kaiti and Whataupoko were represented on the Trustees, and the two Counties. If a fever ward was to be erected, there was no doubt it should be erected so as" to include the whole Hospital district. Personally, he thought the ward would be a waste of money. It would have to be built subject to the provision of the Health Officer, and would cost a consider able amount. Mr Dewing : Wasn't there a proposal from the Borough Council that they should put up this ward? The Chairman replied that was their first proposal, but the trouble was that they represented the Borough only. They could put the ward where they ' liked, and it only applied to the Borough. They admitted this now. If the Council put up one, they would have to find their own medical officers and -nurses. The Trustees represented the County, the Borough, and the suburbs, and also the Waiapu County. If it was erected at . all, the only way was to get a direct subscription from the Government, or put it up by public subscription. Mr Johnston said, as representing the Borough Council, he understood that the legal advisers of the Council differed from the Chairman in their advice. Their advice was to the effect that the Trustees had power to levy on the Charitable Aid Board for any amount they might require for building a ward. That 'was a matter to be settled, but taking it as granted that the Trustees had the power, the speaker considered if they did not accept the position they were shirking their responsibility. They were there for the purpose of attending to the sick, for housing them and getting medical and nursing attention. He thought the Trus'tees should face the position, and they could not choose that they should deal with this sick person and not with another ' who might be ailing from some special disease. Accommodation should be provided' for all cases. It was, not single cases which-' occurred. They knew that within the last few days, on separate occasions, cases had arrived at the Mayor's door. These people had been sent to the Mayor to know what they had to do. This was a state of affairs which should not exist. They were the only body that he knew in existence which provided medical attendance and nursing, and they would have to get a suitable ward for such cases. The scarlet fever was in a mild form, and if these cases were skilfully treated they did not spread. In another case brought under his notice two days ago, where one patient was carelessly attended, the disease spread to seven or eight persons, and it could be traced to the so]jrce of unskilled treatment. He was perfectly convinced the Trustees had the power, and cotdd levy on the Charitable Aid Board. So far as land was concerned, they had about ten acres, but he would leave it to expert opinion as to whether it would be detrimental to the Hospital to build it on the grounds. There was no more danger in attending to scarlet fever than in typhoid. It was their duty to attend to every complaint, from measles to the plague. He had seen men dying in the district in such a manner as to' be a stigma on their civilisation. They were | poor, and that was their only offence, j There was a man a, few days ago- who was kicked about from pillar to post, whom people would not have in their places. Mr Warren asked if the matter could be discussed at the meeting that night? The question had been decided at a previous meeting. They should come specially prepared for it. He thought they should wait for a special meeting. The Chairman ruled they could not discuss the matter of the erection of a ward, but they could consider the terms of the letter. It was practically the same thing which came up before the special meeting, and unless they bad a full attendance of the Trustees it was out of order. , Mr Johnston said the other question was whether the Trustees would allow the Borough Council to erect a ward. Mr Kennedy thought they could\,discuss the matter informally. Supposing a steamer came into the Bay from Sydney and the- had cases of infectious diseases aboard— would the Trustees have to attend to them? There was a similar case in Napier to his knowledge, where < the man, was sent up to the Hospital, where he was declared ,to be suffering from smallpox. The ' Hospital authorities there bundled him out and quarantined him. This isolation ward was really a quarantine station. • The Chairman said the Borough Council had plenty of funds, and power to take action under the Health Act. Mr Johnston said when these extreme cases came they could be met. Mr Kennedy remarked that it was provided in the Act for the Borough Council to do that, but the Trustees could not take their doctor and nurses to attend to these cases. Mr Tuohy said the fact was that it would drive away all the other cases if they took in every case which came along. Mr Kennedy said they did not want to shirk their responsibility, and they recognised the -necessity of dealing with these cases. Mr Joyce was inclined to think that the question before them was a different one from that considered at the special meeting. There was no necessity for a (meeting of the Trustees to cancel the former resolution. Mr Warren remarked that he had asked the Chairman to rule. The Chairman : I have intimated what T shall rule. Mr Joyce said that before tho Chairman ruled he should allow the members <o address the meeting. He contended that, each member should be allowed to give hid opinion. Mr Nolan said it would not be in order. Mr Joyce : I am discussing whether the letter is in order. The Chairman: That is for me to decide. In th« Public Health Act the*

Borough Council or any other Council which was a local authority had full power to find their own medical nurses and provide for the expenses of meeting such cases as these.. Mr Johnston said the Trustees had the whole paraphernalia to attend to the cases, and they could easily get the monev. Mr Dewing: Can we? The Borough Council c:in, but we can't. Mr Johnston replied that the Trustees got all their money from the Charitable Aid Board. The Chairman : Until we get a full meeting, I will rule that we cannot discuss the matter, as it has already been dealt with. Mr Warren moved that a special meeting be called for that night week (Wednesday) to consider the question. — Mr Joyce seconded. Mr Johnston: A very good idea. In the meantime, we will be able to look up authorities. Mr Tuohy : We can't have better authority than the gentleman in the chair. Mr Johnston : Doctors differ. Mr Joyce : So do lawyers. Mr Warren's motion was carried.