Wanganui Chronicle, AND PATEA-RANGITIKEI ADVERTISER, "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1879.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXI, Issue 3369, 18 February 1879, Page 2

Wanganui Chronicle, AND PATEA-RANGITIKEI ADVERTISER, "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1879.

The neresnty for increased hospital accommodation has been frequently pointed out in our columns, but ac no steps have yet been taken in the direc tion of securing the reform required, and as decided action is daily becoming more imperati?e, we may be pardoned for once again calling public attention to the subject. The following paragraph from the Manawatu Times of Saturday will show the feeling which exists in that district with regard to the present position of affairs :— " The great necessity that exists tor inceased accommodation in the Wanganui Hospital was forcibly brought under the notice of the Manawatu Council at its lastgmeetmg, when Mr Macarthur, Chairman of the County t stated that one or two persons to whom he had granted a pass to the hospital had been forced to return home, after undergoing the expense of a journey to Wanganui, because there was no available accommodation in the hospital There was a general feeling tnat another wing, or cottage, should be added to the present building, and the Chairman was empowered to proceed to Wanganui to make what arrangements he considered best for the future. If an addition was decided upon, the Manawatu County Council would be quite prepared to bear a fair share of the expenditure incurred. For the sake o£ poor sufferiug humanity, we trust that prompt action will be taken in this matter of providing increased accommodation. No kind of local jealousy will be at ail likely to arise on eucih a question, and we do hope our Wanganui friends will bestir themselves in the matter at oncp, and [ avail themselves of the promised cooperation in adding to an institution which ought to be an object of great interest to every citizen resident in that locality." With this opinion all our citizens will heartily concur, aud wejiave no hesitation in saying that, if the country districts are willing to bear their fair share of the expense of erecting another wing to the present building, petty jealousies will not be allowed to hinder the carrying out of the much needed alterations. As a natural consequence of the arrangements entered into by the Hospital Committee with the country districts at the recent conference, there ha 3 of late been a great influx of country patients, the result being that the wards are overcrowded, and the custodian and his wife greatly overworked. Until the discharge of some of the patici * at present under treatment, th 6 admission of more is out of the question, as there is really no further accommodation. When it" was arranged that the country districts should contribute to the cost of maintaining the institution on condition that their patients should be admitted to share in its advantages, it was not contemplated that such demands would be made^ upon the resources of the establishment as have resulted, else probably they would then have been asked to aid in enlarging the building. A. statement was made at the conference by the delegates from Bulls that they had funds in hand that would be available if required for increasing the accommodation of the Wangaoui institution- Why no further action has been taken in the matter we are not aware. Probably were the Hospital Committee to take the initiative satisfactory neg tiations might now be entered into which would result in the proposal of the delegates being carried out. Whatever action may be taken, however, it is very certain things cannot much longer go on as th y are now doing ; not only must the establishment be enlarged to suit our requirements, but something like a sufficient staff must be provided. It is manifestly impossible that the present staff, who a year ago were overtaxed, can now perform satisfactorily double the work they had to do then. Perhaps the best mode of proceeding would be to have another conference of town and country when definite proposals could be made and a well considered plan of action decided on. The country districts will, we feel sure, not be backward in guaranteeiag a reasonable proportion of the cost of suitable extensions, and cur fellow citizens will endorse any movement in the right direction made by the Hospital Committee. We may suggest that the additions to be made should be such as will not merely suffice for present necessities, but that they should be sufficiently extensive for the requirements of the next few years. The demand for hospital accommodation will of course increase in ratio to the increase in population, which we anticipate will be considerable for some time to come, and while the committee are about it it would be well to make such provision as will render another appeal to the country districts unnecessary for some years at least. The staff may be easily added to from time to time as required, but exttmsioiiß to the premises is amoreformid able work. It is also very|essential i that a ward should be set aside for

patients suffering from fever. At present classifies' ion is an impossibility, and the rink of con- agion from occasional fever patient* run by the other inmates is in consequence alarmingly I great. Until adequate accommodation has been provided, and iudeerl afterwards, our country friends will doubtless recognise the desirability of sending for admission that class of patients only for whose relief such institutions are designed. Indeed it ib a question whether a rule should not be adopted, making it compulsory on all applicants to undergo an examination by the medical officer of the establishment previous to their admission, which should be obtained only upon an order from the Chairman of the Hospital Committee. These and all other matters pertaining to management could, however, be fully dis'-usnedat a conference of delegates, aid we tru*i that such will be arranged for without unnecessary d< j lay.