HOSPITAL AT ROTORUA

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 78, Issue 7017, 9 February 1949, Page 7

HOSPITAL AT ROTORUA

TREATMENT OF PHYSICAL DISORDERS DECISION OF HEALTH DEPARTMENT The Government has decided to use the Services’ Convalescent Hospital at Rotorua, as a centre for the investigation and treatment of rheumatic diseases, cerebral palsy, and other disorders* of the Locomotor System. The hospital which has 150 beds, of which 100 will be allocated to the treatment of rheumatic disorders, is in process of being equipped and staffed. The intention is to put the treatment of rheumatic disorders on a scientific basis and to employ oath treatment as an ancillary only. The fullest use of medical, surgical, and psycologicai methods of treatments is to be employed and it is proposed to only admit cases in which there is a reasonable possibility of a definite and lasting improvement being obtained. In order to avoid the clinic being blocked with incurables, all cases will pass through a diagnostic clinic which would select those who would best lend themselves to improvment or research. The clinic will be in charge of a physician interested in disorders of the Locomotor System, and an orthopaedic surgeon, and specialists in physical medicine will also be members of the staff. It is intended to train medical and nursing staff at Rotorua in modern methods of treatment with an ultimate objective of s-etting up further clinics throughout the Dominion. The setting up of these clinics could most conveniently be set up by hospital boards and with this object in view, Dr Lennane, the department’s Director of Physical Medicine, who is in charge of the centre at Rotorua, stated he would be glad to have the benefit of any observations that the Waikato Hospital Board and medical staff would like to make. To a question advanced during the monthly meeting of the Waikato Hospital Board, by Mr H. A. M. Brown, the Rotorua member, as to whether any notice had been taken of the Director-General of Health’s suggestion regarding the setting up of a committee for diagnostic and preventative treatment, the chairman (Mr H. D. Caro), stated that a committee had already been set up.