FIVE YEAR PLAN

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19986, 19 December 1934, Page 11

FIVE YEAR PLAN

HOSPITAL BUILDING PROGRAMME

CONSIDERATION DEFERRED

At yesterday’s meeting of the South Canterbury Hospital Board. Mr C. Ley gave notice to move as follows at the next meeting of the Board: “That a special committee be set up to consider the question of site (altitude, atmosphere, environment and curative qualities) in connection with further hospital building, the committee to consist of one Board member from Timaru, Geraldine, Fairlie and Waimate, and a medical man from each of these places.” The notice to move along these lines was given by Mr Ley after the presentation of a statement dealing with the curative properties of atmosphere and environment, which was read by the secretary (Mr H. G. Naylor) on behalf of Mr Ley. The statement was presented when the Board reached item 6 on the agenda paper, which read:— “Special reports—.(a) Hospitals requirements during the next five years; (b) Waimate Hospital X-ray plant and new ward.

Mr Ley’s Statement. The statement by Mr Ley was as follows: “We are asked if the curative properties of ntmosphere and environment have been considered and if we are really convinced that we are proposing to spend the people’s money in the correct place. It is pointed out that we are at the crisis of our times In Hospital matters and any step such as we contemplate in the spending of £50,000 will have attaching to it determining factors far outpassing our own times,” he continued. “It is thrust before our notice that this Board, in its present and past personnel, has repeatedly acted upon the assumption that a hospital immediately upon the sea coast is not the most curative place for many disorders, and particularly for those attacking the lungs and throat. We are reminded that at one stage in the history of many of the present members of the Board it was decided to acquire buildings and land more inland, among the downs, and that the consummation of this was blocked by the very unpopular and debated action of the then Chief of the Health Department, this mandate being even now' referred to regretfully In our meetings. “We are asked to remember that this Board has spent many thousands of pounds in creating an institution at Waipiata for the treatment of tuberculosis which for long we found the Timaru Hospital site unsuited for. The splendid results of this change of climate and environment are on record and justify the expenditure. It is pointed out to us that the average days’ stay in hospitals inland are less than at Timaru on the coast, and we are asked to take full consideration of all the factors w'hich go to make up the full tale of curative treatment. We are reminded that this Board purchased a site near Fairlie for hospital purposes under the firm conviction that inland air and elevation were deciding factors in the curative treatment. It is pointed out that there are sites advantageous over a large portion of South Canterbury from the sunny slopes of Geraldine and the high elevation of Fairlie, to the sheltered foothills of the southern end of the Hunter Range.

“We are asked to consider the effect upon sick people of that salt air which eats away our iron roofing at Timaru Hospital and renders the whole aspect of the Hospital environment drab and sordid. Attention is drawn to the absence of any substitute for the clay cliffs which the book of Sunny Timaru speaks of as sheltering Caroline Bay from the cold southerly blast. “It is not too late to take full consideration of this aspect. If we go on with a £50,000 plan at Timaru we are condemned to the sea coast site for all time. Granted that a town hospital will be always useful and called for, we are asked to remember that the progress of hospital thought calls for the treatment of all hospital cases at public hospitals either in public or private wards by resident or private physicians. The future will call for immense extensions to one hospital or the provision of numerous hospitals in South Canterbury and if for one immense institution then must we most carefully consider the step we are taking and not make the error of sinking a further £50,000 on a site ultimately to be condemned and abandoned. If we are wrong ,let us not be afraid to face the facts. If we are convinced after full examination into this aspect that we are right to proceed, there will be nothing lost by taking time and thought. We cannot proceed with any plan before next estimates. There are many precedents for abandoning unsuitable sites for hospitals. At Invercargill new buildings are being erected at Kew five miles away from the present buildings. In London, a seven mile move to Demark Hill was made by the' Kings College Hospital.

“I am aware that factors of transport and availability of specialists have to be considered, as they had in selecting the site at Waipiata, and these must be weighed. The matter is one not to be hastily dealt with, but demands full consideration.”

Board Discussion. Mr Ley said that he thought the Board should proceed slowly, because if South Canterbury was going to expand, they should look round and think the matter over fully, and then select the best site available, provided it was easily accessible to the centres. The chairman (Mr E. Macdonald), said that clause 6 referred to special reports, but it was not exactly urgent to come to a decision that day. They had four or five months before they could do anything. The motion by Mr Ley was somewhat unexpected. There was food for thought in it all right, and there would be no harm in taking it at the next meeting. Mr G. Dash: There was a very interesting talk over the air from Christchurch along these lines last night. I did not hear it, but I was told that it was very interesting. The chairman: I think that at the next meeting we should be able to come to some decision in regard to the special reports. Mr R. W. Simpson said that the special reports had been presented at the last meeting, and consideration had been deferred to enable members to digest the reports, and in his opinion they should now proceed. The Board would not be meeting again until February. The question was “is it necessary to go on with the building programme?” He thought they should discuss the necessity of it. The cases Mr Ley referred to were tuberculosis cases, which would certainly benefit by a high altitude. In Timaru, where they were treating accident cases and all sorts of complaints, they should go on with the question as to whether it was desirable to proceed with additions for better accommodation. The chairman said that Mr Leys

motion did not challenge the necessity or need for a building programme. Mr Clark said that there was a good deal in what Mr Ley had said, but for a general hospital they could not get away from the present type. By delaying the matter they would be losing a month. Delay Immaterial. Mr G. Dash said that while he had every sympathy with the Timaru members, he had to give weight to the aspect put forward by Mr Ley, and in considering it, they should consider the whole thing. So far as the delay was concerned, it was immaterial. The only procedure was to put the money on the estimates in March, and they would have ample time to do that if they discussed the matter at the February meeting. He would not suggest that Mr Ley’s motion would affect the final decision, but it should be weighed up. Seeing there was nothing to be lost by waiting for the notice of motion, he suggested that they should take it in due course.

Mr Simpson quoted portions of the special report indicating urgency, and asked why the matter should be deferred. Even if a decision was reached, it would not do away with the matter raised by Mr Ley. The question as to whether the hospital was to be in Timaru or some other place could be discussed later. Mr Dash said that he thought the Board was unanimous that more hospital accommodation would have to be provided. They were all agreed on that, and the question of finalising it would not affect the time the buildings would be started. They could not do anything until the estimates came forward in March. The chairman said that they could not make a move until the estimates had been approved. He did not think there was going to be any hitch, and he was fairly certain they would proceed as diligently as possible. Mr Dash moved that both matters be taken together at the next meeting. Mr G. D. Selbie: How are we expanding? The chairman: How do you mean? In population? Mr Selbie: No. £50.000 is a lot of money, but what is our ability to find it? The chairman: You are referring to the economic position? Mr Selbie said that adding to the existing buildings in Timaru would be a great asset, but spending £50,000 in Fairlie, for instance, would get them nowhere. The motion was carried, Messrs Simpson and Clark dissenting. In reply to Mr Dash as to the legal position, the secretary said that there would be considerable delay, because they would have to approach the Local Bodies Loans Board and the Minister, and they would have to wait six weeks after the estimates were sent and so as to give local bodies a chance to object, if they desired to do so. It would be the end of May before they could get the debentures printed.