DUNEDIN HOSPITAL CLAIMS TO BE THE HARDEST HIT OF ALL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18014, 26 November 1926, Page 1

DUNEDIN HOSPITAL CLAIMS TO BE THE HARDEST HIT OF ALL.

POOUNG OF RESOURCES AGAINST TUBERCULOSIS IS NOW SUGGESTED. ■* Presr Association* DUNEDIN, November 26. The Hospital Board received last night a lengthy letter from Dr Falconer concerning the treatment of tuberculosi. and the desirability of pooling all sanatoria, the cost of treatment to be borne by a special fiat rate over the Dominion. He pointed out that the new Act, making as “ law of settlement ” three months’ residential qualification for admission to hospital and sanatoria instead of twelve months as previously, adversely affected, finan cially, the position of the North Canterbury Board, the Otago Board and the combined Hospital Boards administering sanatoria in the South Island. Incidentally the Dunedin Hospital was hardest struck of all general hospitals in the Dominion, as the local ratepayers were being called on to carry an unfair burden in providing accommodation for patients essentially, though not legally, residents outside the Hospital Board districts. To carry out the Dominion scheme, he suggested four district tuberculosis boards with a national board having seven members, four representing the boards and three representing the Government, such board being responsible for finance and policy. The matter was referred to a committee. It was also decided to point out to the Department the way the new legislation affected Otago.