VENEREAL DISEASES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 869, 22 November 1916, Page 11

VENEREAL DISEASES.

A BUREAU FOR WOMEN. HOSPITAL BOARD'S ACTION. Further progress in the planning i of a campaign against venereal diseases in the North Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board's district was made at the hoard's meeting this morning. The Hon. G. W. Russell, Minister of Public Health and Hospitals, wrote that he was glad to notice that the question of dealing with venereal diseases in a comprehensive manner was engaging the serious attention | of the hoard, and was interested to learn, that a ladies association had j been "formed with a view to giving j every encouragement to women to! submit themselves for examination | and treatment. The suggestion that the board should appoint a lady doctor for this work had his heartiest approval. It would certainly he necessary to appoint a snecial medical officer ffcr dealing with males, as well as the female,.medical officer. Both officers should he on the staff of the Christchurch Hosoital. The Department would contribute up to 75 per cent, of the expense involved, which meant inclusive of the subsidy already paid to hospital boards. It was, of course, to.be understood thatj the medical officers fo be appointed j would not he whole-time 'officers fori this particular service, <but practi- j turners whose services were utilised: for other purposes bv the board, or whose honorarium for this special dutv was.first approved by himself, With regard to the board's opinion! (from which Mrs Wlson had dis-1 sen ted) that compulsory notification! of venereal diseases, was essential, the Minister said he was unable to agree with the board? The Royal I Commission at Home reported! against notification, and alb'the in-; formation at his disposal with re- j gard to this Dominion led him to j the conclusion that if notification were made compulsory," dreadful injustice would be done to many innocent victims of the disease, and that | the effect would be to prevent sufferers visiting the clinics, which he desired to see established under this board, and other boards, and driving them to quacks and others whom it was part of the policy of the Department to suppress. The Hospital Committee reported that it had met representatives of the Ladies' Social Hygiene Association. It had decided to recommend the board to assist in the establishment of a bureau, in a central positional! Christchurch, for the dissemination of information amongst women. The accommodation required consisted of a surgery, waiting room and a meeting room for members of the association. It would be necessary to provide a nurse as an attendant, and also to advertise for the services of a lady doclor. The association was also asking the board to provide the necessary funds for carrying on the work. So far as the hospital department is" concerned, continued the Hospital Committee's report, for the treatment of males, it had been decided that such treatment should be given at the hospital. Dr Sandston had consented to undertake the duties of honorary surgeon in the genitourinary' department, which would embrace the diseases in question. Pending the appointment of a ladv, Dr Sandston had also temporarily undertaken the duties of honorary surgeon of the branch connected with the Social Hygiene Association. Tlie committee desired the board's authority to advertise for the services of a qualified lady for the position. There was considerable discus sion. chiefly an advocacy of the desirability of compulsory notification, and also as to whether it was preferable to have the women's bureau away from the hospital. Several members protested that the lime for talk had gone by, and if was time s( me veal steps were tfiken. Mr W. W. Tanner pointed out that public discussions of the subject of venerea] diseases dated as far back as 1808. Eventually the Hospital Committee's report was adopted, with the modification fiiat the treatment of women should be carried out at the hospital, to which tases are to be referred from the bureau which is to be established in the citv. The taking of further steps was left to the committee, which was authorised to spend up to £IOO in putting into c iTeel/fhe recommendation regarding the dissemination of information, etc.