A SPECIAL REPORT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17572, 24 June 1925, Page 1

A SPECIAL REPORT.

THE V.D, PROBLEM. HOSPITAL BOARD’S ACTION The report of the special committee set up Jiv tho North ( auterburv Hospital Board to consider 1 !, c question of providing greater facilities for the treatment of patients in. the Venereal Disease Department reported to-day that iherc were present at. the meeting: The Rev Carr (in the chair), Messrs Holland and ‘Walter, and Mesdames Herbert and Roberts. Drs Fox, C. King and A. C. Thomson and Mrs Stringer (Health I’alrol), were present by invitation. Dr Thomson informed the committee that at present there was an evening clinic for women on Tuesdav and another in the afternoon of Friday. He could he provided, that women could he treated practical I v every cbiv, and that considerable ‘advantage would After hearing the opinions of the other doctors and Mrs Stringer. it appeared to the committee evident that fciicro must be. a number of women requiring treatment if they could. he induced to present themselves. Under the regulations now in force, it is possible that a considerable amount of pressure will be put upon ilbjso persons to attend who, at present, do not receive treatment or fail to continue treatment. r l his must have the effect of very materially increasing the numbers attending the various clinics, and also the amount of work to be done in the department. It was decided, said the. report, that it was imperative that the waiting accommodation and. treatment rooms for women should ho distinct from the waiting and treatment rooms for men ; and with a. view to giving effect to this it was decided to leave the matter for a report by the medical superintendent of the hospital and the matron as to Hip means of meeting the requirements. Ultimately it was determined ami agreed to by the Hospital Committee, and later by the Finance Committee, that waiting accommodation should he provided lor women ou the balcony at the northwest end of the outpatients’ department : and that the adjoining small theatre should bo used as a. treatment room. An entrance would be obtained quite apart from th c outpatients entrance. The report continued: 'With regard to greater facilities for men, a. proposal has l>ccn made to carry out thc wall at the west end of the outpatients’ department, which "ill give aa added floor area of about 340 square feet, and this will enable a much greater number of men to be treated, or at least if there are no greater numbers, it will expedite the treatment of the men who attend night after night. As an instance of the number of persons who have to be treated, on a recent evening there were no fewer than eiglity-two men present.” Tile chairman of the special committee (the Rev Clyde Carr) moved and Mr Headley seconded, that the report he held ever for consideration at a special meeting: of the hoard to he held a fortnight hence to discuss tno aninial report of the medical supermtendont i, t connection with venereal disease. . The motion was carried.