NEEDS OF OTOROHANGA

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 77, Issue 6975, 8 October 1948, Page 5

NEEDS OF OTOROHANGA

PROVISIONS OF MEDICAL AND SURGICAL FACILITIES FURTHER EFFORTS TO BE MADE Although for the past 15 years, surgical and medical cases have been treated at private hospitals in Otorohanga, this service has been discontinued since the hospitals have been taken over by the Waikato Hospital Board, according to information given by the hospital board member for this district, Mr F. W. G. Johnson, at the meeting of the Otorohanga Chamber of Commerce held last week. Mr Johnson said that representations had been made to the Hon. Mabel Howard, Minister of Health, on the subject by Mr W. J. Broadfoot, M.P., Mr A. Baxter, M.P., Mrs H. Ross, M.P. (who is also a member of the Waikato Hospital Board) and Mr Caro, chairman of the hospital board, but without result. The matter had been re-eonsidered but the original decision not to continue the services had been adhered to. Higher Standard Required It was stated by Mr Johnson that although satisfactory surgical and medical facilities had been available at the Sunnyside Hospital when it was under private control, public hospitals required a higher standard so far as equipment was concerned and the expenditure necessary to bring Sunnyside up to the required standard was between £5OO and £6OO, plus the cost of sterilising equipment, which was to be installed in any case. Mr Johnson pointed out that it was not government policy to decentralise hospitals but the fact remained that it was practically impossible for patients from this district to gain admission to either the Waikato or Te Kuiti Hospitals without waiting months or even years. Many of the cases were of a nature that could be dealt with satisfactorily here, as had been the case in the past. These patients would now have to go to the base hospital at Hamilton and take up beds which under ordinary circumstances, should be used for more serious cases which required special attention and a higher standard of equipment. Effect on Medical Practitioners So far as the Otorohanga district was concerned, there was another serious aspect. If surgical cases could not be treated in the Otorohanga hospitals there would be no incentive for competent practitioners to stay in the town and as a result there would be a decline in the standard of medical service in the district. Mr Johnson stated that he had already been approached by the Federated Farmers and W.D.F.F. on the matter and he felt sure that the question was one in which every resident of the district was vitally concerned.

After some discussion it was decided unanimously by the Chamber to write to the chairman of the Town Board asking that a public meeting be called of representatives of all interested organisations in the district to make further representations in an effort to have further consideration given to the matter.