RADIUM FOR SOUTHLAND

Taranaki Daily News, 12 July 1935, Page 7

RADIUM FOR SOUTHLAND

department criticised 600 MILLIGRAMS ALREADY PAID FOR DUNEDIN CONCENTRATION OPPOSED DIFFICULTY IN WAY OF PATIENTS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Invercargill, Last Night., Criticism of the Department of Health’s attitude regarding radium held in the Dunedin hospital on trust for the people of Southland was voiced at a meeting of the Southland Hospital Board to-day. , „ Some years ago the people of Southland raised £3600 for the purchase of radium for the treatment of cancer. This sum with accrued interest rose to £BOOO, and with this amount 600 milligrams of radium were bought. The radium was placed with the Dunedin hospital, where it was to be made available to any Southland patients requiring it. Expenses to and from Dunedin and of boarding there have caused complaints to be voiced from time to time, and requests were made for the transference of part of the radium to Invercargill. The department, however, has urged the desirability of radium being kept in the main centres, where there are special facilities and equipment. At to-day’s meeting of the board a report on a recent visit of the DirectorGeneral of Health, Dr. M. H. Watt, stated that Dr. Watt had in a talk with members advanced reasons for the desirability and necessity of concentrating both radium and deep X-ray therapy treatment at the four main centres. Objection to this attitude was.voiced by Mr. Walter Clark, who said he considered the position at present was most unfair. Southland patients requiring such treatment had to pay the expense of going to Dunedin, yet it was Southland money which secured a large part of the radium.

Miss Birss said Dr. Watt had said that if the Southland board asked for radium about a dozen secondary boards, would follow suit, but these other boards had not so far as she was aware paid for the radium as had the Southland board. No motion was carried by the board.