Additional Accommodation For Consumptive Patients.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18641, 19 December 1928, Page 9

Additional Accommodation For Consumptive Patients.

QUESTION OF SITE CAUSES SHARP DIFFERENCE OF OPINION AMONG MEMBERS OF HOSPITAL BOARD.

AFTER a spirited debate, th< that the additions to the carried out at the Coronation rescind the resolution was given

The board had before it co] two committees. The Finance Committee reported: With reference to the question of a site for accommodation for “advanced” cases of consumption, the committee disagrees with the Public Health Committee and is of opinion that the best site for this purpose is an addition to the Coronation Hospital. The Public Health Committee reported that with regard to the question of accommodation for “advanced” cases of tuberculosis, the committee had taken into consideration various reports received from the specialist experts, and determines to recommend the board that it should be erected in conjunction w-ith the “Upper” Sanatorium. Mr 11. E. Holland supported the Finance Committee’s recommendation. He said that he thought that an addition should be made at Coronation Hospital. A separate institution at the top would be an institution for men only. Greater elasticity would be provided by adding to the Coronation Hospital. Mr F. Horrell supported the Finance Committee. Why r should the advanced cases be taken up the hill where the children were? The board should consider the finances as well as the patients' health. There was nothing to show that the patients were not getting proper treatment in the Coronation Hospital. The Rev J. K. Archer said that it was an extraordinary thing that the Finance Committee should overrule the Public Health Committee and sacrifice health to finance. It was a question of men versus money. It w T as admitted by Dr Macintyre that if they were starting afresh the Coronation Hospital would not have been built. A member: We would not have built any there. Mr Archer: At any rate, I would not build on the flat. We should build on the hills. Dr Macintyre had said that if it were a proposal to build he would not recommend the Coronation site. Because a previous board had made a mistake that was no reason why they should duplicate it. If it were a mistake in the first instance to build there they should so organise things that in future they could dispense with the Coronation Hospital. If the time came when there were fewer T.B. cases that building would be the first to be closed. If they made the additions at the Coronation Hospital they would not be so likely to close it in the future. Mr Holland: You will never close it. Mr Archer said that there was no doubt that it had been the practice to move the hopeless cases from the Upper Sanatorium to the Coronation Hospital. That institution had been known amongst patients for years as the “dying shop.” Quite a lot of people had died there.

Mrs Herbert: They have died up top, too.

“I Will Go Further.” Mr Archer: I will go further and say that because of social influences some people have been allowed to die at the top, who, under other circumstances, would have been moved to the Coronation Hospital. I can give the names, if necessary. A member: Do you say there is unfair treatment? Mr Archer: I say there has been differential treatment. The chairman: I think you should withdraw that. Mr Archer: I do not say .what I think; I say what I know. I make the statement with authority. Mr Archer added that while it had been the custom to move the hopeless cases down hill those showing definite improvement had been moved up, because it had been considered that that would improve their chances of recovery. He was satisfied they could build another medical department at the top without duplicating the administrative block. It would be positively wrong to add to the Coronation Hospital and sacrifice the health of the patients to financial considerations. Mrs Herbert said that she was sure Mr Archer was very far wrong in many of his statements. He was quite wrong in his statement regarding differential treatment. Dr Blackmore had always been perfectly fair. Mr Archer objected to his remarks being linked with Dr Blackmore. The personal question should not be raised, he said. The chairman: You say they have been moved from the top and differences shown. Mrs M’Combs: It is the usual tactics of the Hospital Board to hide behind the officers. It is being done at every meeting of the board. Mrs Herbert said that the idea that more people died at the Coronation Hospital than at the sanatorium was quite wrong when the nature of the cases was taken into consideration. Dr Macintyre had expressed himself very firmly that as between Coronation

e Hospital Board to-day decided Cashmere sanatoria should be Hospital. Notice of motion to by the Rev J. K. Archer, nflicting recommendations from and the top sanatorium he would choose Coronation. It was admitted that the buildings were not in the right places. Views of Medical Officer. The opinions of the medical officers were read. Dr Blackmore said that there was no question whatever that from a patient’s point of view the quality of the air at the upper sanatorium was markedly better than at the Coronation Hospital. Mr W. J. Walter said that they should look ahead and try and improve things in the future. He hoped the board would stand by the Public Health Committee. It would cost more, but what was that when they were going to save a lot of lives? Dr Acland said all agreed that it would have been better not to have the sanatorium where it was. There was no doubt about the value of the treatment at the Coronation Hospital. He did not think that the actual position on Cashmere Hills mattered a great deal. He favoured the Coronation site.

Mr F. G. Norton said he feared that financial considerations had slightly swayed the committee. He favoured the higher site, as he did not think i the Coronation Hospital was always above the fog line. “Mr Archer is a sky pilot,” he said, “ and I do not think he is leading us very far astray.” (Laughter.) People must go up the hill to get fresh air.

Mrs M’Combs said that there were members on the board who put financial considerations first on all occasions. The three specialists had all said that if they were building the institution afresh they would not put it where it was. The least they could do was to take the best of the sites that were available. The board should accept the recommendation of the Health Committee. The matter of wind on the hills was greatly exaggerated. Mr Revell supported the building being erected at the Coronation Hospital. Mr Smith said that he had been fighting for the extra accommodation for the advanced cases for a long time If the board was to continue shuffling they would have nothing done when they went out of office. The board should make a decision at once and give the committee authority to get on with the work. He had been in favour at the outset of the building being put at the higher level. He was quite prepared to support now putting the building at the top. The extra accommodation needed was practically for the males. If the building were put at the top the women would still be lower down. He combated the view that there had been any differential treatment. The cost of the building' being put lower down would be £IO,OOO or £13,000, as against about £IB,OOO higher up. He had been told by the doctors that if the building were put at the Coronation Hospital it would serve the purpose. Mr L. B. Evans said that the Coronation Hospital was as good for the purpose as higher up. The question was not one of finance until they had determined which was the better site. Having settled that question they come to the question of finance. In making the recommendation it did, the Finance Committee was doing its duty. The Finance Committee had been practically unanimous in its recommendation. The chairman said that Coronation Hospital was erected to take the cot cases. To-day the Coronation Hospital had become quite a different institution and that was the reason why they were now cramped for room. Coronation Hospital was being used a great deal more than was ever intended. There had been great results obtained. The recommendation of the Finance Committee was adopted by twelve votes to five, the division list being:— For the motion (12) : Dr Acland, Messrs Armstrong, Boyd, Davison, Evans, Mrs Herbert. Messrs Holland, Horrell, M’Millan, Otley, Rowell and Smith. Against the motion (5) : Mesdames M’Combs and Green, Rev J. K. Archer, and Messrs Norton and Walter. Mr Archer at once gave notice of motion to rescind the resolution. “This matter is of such importance that before this board finally decides,” he said, “the public should be consulted, and I propose to consult the public about it.” Mr Walter: I suggest that the Public Health Committee resigns as the board had not confidence in it. Mr Evans: This means the thing will be held up! The chairman : Yes. Mr Evans: Mr Archer is trying deliberately to hold it up? Mr Archer: I am trying to hold it up permanently. Make no mistake about that!