TUBERCULOSIS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18214, 15 March 1929, Page 12

TUBERCULOSIS.

3 DISCUSSED AT HOSPITAL J BOARD'S CONFERENCE. j PALMERSTON N., March 13. a A suggestion that Hospital Boards a should undertake the- treatment of 1 tuberculosis was productive of a a lengthy discussion at the Hospital - Boards’ Conference this morning, , when several proposals were advanced, a including the opinion that th© system f of control should be nationalised, s speakers holding that provision for the > r care and treatment of tuberculosis t cases was the proper function of Hospi--5 tal Boards. 4 The executive committee 'bought > down a number of recommendations j and suggestions with a view to ensuring more uniformity in an active polj icy, and also with a view to more t equitably sharing the burden of tile • more expensive measures against the l disease. Boards should combine in f groups of two for the purpose of taking over th© administration of tuberculosis sanatoria within the respective districts of the combined Boards. In the opinion of the Committee uniform measures were not likely to be prosecuted while different forms of control over tuberculosis institutions were allowed to exist. A Hawke's Bay remit that the treatment of tuberculosis should become a national undertaking was accepted as an amendment. f Dr. Watt, of the Health Department, said the suggestion of the executive was an attempt to unify and I co-ordinate a scheme dealing with the greatest national menace. Combined efforts by Hospital Boards could be productive of great results. The Department affirmed the principle of Hospital Board control whole henrtedly. Followed a lengthy discussion the Hawke’s Bar remit was lost- and the conference supported the executive report bv 38 to 27 votes. The chairman. Mr \Y. Wallace, moved the adoption of th° scheme for the division: of Hcxspitol Boards into controlling group s ; An Otago remit Favouring tlie nationalisation of the treatment of the disease, following a discussion, was lost. Tt was decided that there should be two groups for each Island, and the question of defining the boundaries of the groups was referred to the Hospital Boards for their consideration.