FOR SOLDIERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 222, 18 September 1940, Page 9

FOR SOLDIERS.

HOSPITAL NEEDS. PLANS IN AUCKLAND. Hospital provision for sick and wounded soldiers was discussed at a special meeting of the Auckland Hospital Board yesterday afternoon, and it was stated by the Director-General of Health, Dr. M. H. Watt, that a new 150bed building would be built in the Domain within five months to accommodate in the main blocks civilian patients who would give way to returning sick and wounded soldiers. Other representatives of the Department of Health present were the deputy-Director-General of Health, Dr. R. A. Shore, the Director of the Division of Nursing, Miss M. I. Lambie, and the secretary of the National Medical Committee, Mr. F. J. Fenton. The chairman, Mr. Allan J. Moody, said that the meeting had been called at the request of the Director-General of Health. No Military Hospitals. Dr. Watt explained that the general policy was that the care of sick and wounded soldiers should rest with the hospital system of New Zealand. It was considered that military hospitals should not be provided. Dr. Watt said the large percentage of soldiers expected to return to New Zealand would be orthopaedic cases, which would require attention that could only be given in the four main centres. It was proposed to have convalescent hospitals at Rotorua and Hanmer. He considered that the quickest and most simple measure would be for the Government to accept the full responsibility for the new block to provide 150 beds and relieve an equal number of beds in the main hospital. Plans had been prepared and tenders would soon be called. Cost of Patients. Mr. G. T. Parvin pointed out that as the cost of a patient would probably be 18/ a day and as the Government would only allow 11/ a day, a heavy burden would be placed on the ratepayers. Mr. J. Sayegh pointed to the present overcrowded state of the Auckland Hospital. Dr. Watt replied that 150 beds would meet soldier requirements, and said that the board had a building programme at Epsom. Mr. E. H. Potter urged that the plans for the building at Epsom should be expedited. Mr. Moody said the first work the board wanted to get on with was the infirmary block, and mentioned the desirability of taking the Training College if it were needed. It was now realised that the Department and the boards had to look after the soldiers. Mr. J. V. Macky said the board should not lose sight of a central scheme. Mr. J. H. Kinnear considered that the care of soldiers should be the responsibility of the Government and that the Government should have taken over the exhibition buildings in Wellington. "Give us a free hand," said Mr. Moody at the ck.se of the discussion, "and we will deliver the goods as far as Auck- i land is concerned." I