WOUNDED SOLDIERS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144708, 17 June 1915, Page 4

WOUNDED SOLDIERS.

OFFER OP PUBLIC HOSPITAL,

At the meeting of the Taranaki Hospital Board on Wednesday a letter was • received from Dr. T. H. A. Valin tine, Inspector-General of Hospitals, stating that h© understood the board had been pleased to place at the disposal of the Government tho new hospital at New Plymouth, capable of accommodating 200 beds, in the event of the institution being required for tho sick and wounded from the. front. Ho wished tho chairman to convey to the members of tho board tho thanks of the Government for their generous offer, which it bad no hesitation in accepting. He understood that the building would not bo available for the al*»v© purpose for some time, but hoped to be able to give adequate notice in rase it should bo found necessary to take advantage of the board’s generosity. In a circular be is addressing to tho bosprtaf boards of the Dominion, Dr. .Vahntine said:— “I have the honour to* approach your board with regard to the accommodation of tho sick and wounded from the seat of war. lam of opinion that no special accommodation will bo necessary for these patients, being confident that the beds in tho hospitals of the Dominion will be ample for the purpose, especially if it could be arranged for a certain number of convalescent hospitals to be established in connection, therewith. “On the arrival of a transport with sick send wounded, the proposal is to accommodate those who are not fit to travel in the hospital nearest tho port of disembarkation, and to scud those who are fit'to travel, but require medi<ud and nursing attendance, to the hospitals of the district in which their homes are situated. i(T th& ■ hospital boards will bo given ample notice to enable them to provide for tho sick and wounded sent them, so ' that it-,will.be possible to make tho* necessary arrangements, which might : possibly involve sending many of those more or le® chronic cases which now i occupy our hospital beds to their own | homes. “Subsequently, it will be possible to I draft many of these cases to hqusos in the nefighlwurhood which have been offered as convalescent homes, and I would respectfully urge your board to Invite persons who have suitable houses in your neighbourhood to offer them as convalescent homes. It v ill be necessary, of course, that these houses should be within, comparatively easy ’communication, of the hospital, so that the transfer of convalescents can bo managed wfth tho least possible delay and discomfort to tho persons concerned.” The members of the board were in complete sympathy with the circular, and decided that it bo handed to the Press so that the proposals outlined would gain the necessary publicity.