CARE OF CONSUMPTIVES.

Waipa Post, Volume XXI, Issue 1280, 12 August 1922, Page 5

CARE OF CONSUMPTIVES.

BIG EXPENSE TO BOARDS The Department of Health is now saddling hospital hoards with a charge of £3 3s Weekly for the treatment ol consumptives at the,, Otaki and Waipukurau sanatoria. The Waikato Hospital Board at Hamilton on Thursday protested against this high fee, and several members suggested that great care should be exercised as to who were sent to sanatoria.

Dr G, W. Gower ('medical superintendent) said there was plenty of room in the Bailey Ward, at the Waikato Hospital for consumptives. The Government sanatoria usually treated incipient cases, and 'were really educative institutions to teach the patients how to keep fit. It was suggested by several members of the 'Board that all cases for sanatoria should first pass Dr Gower. 'The latter considered some check should be kept on the cases, as all & doctor had to do to get rid of the undesirable patient was to commit him or her to a sanatorium.

Instructions were given that all patients for Government sanatoria must (first pass the medical superintendent of the Waikato Hospital. A resolution from the Bay of Plenty Hospital Board urged the Government (to establish one or more institutions for reception of incurable consumptives, while a further resolution passed (by the South Otago Hospital Board considered that the Government should .undertake as a national matter the care and treatment of all Tiß. cases.