HOSPITAL AFFAIRS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 53, 5 March 1943, Page 5

HOSPITAL AFFAIRS

CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT

CLARIFYING RECENT REPORT

In a communication with reference to our recent report, on his interview wjth the County Council, ( Mr L. Buddie, Chairman ol' the s Hospital Board, has pointed out a number of points which due to our * efforts to condense so long a discus ion hours) arc likely to be * misconstrued. We have 110 hesitation in admitting the possibility and ' as wc have informed him arc glad * to allow him the opportunity of putting the points lie mentioned in 1 their correct perspective. 1 "You report me," writes Mr Bud- C die, "as having said that a children's I ward; had been planned 18 months A ago and p-lans were now nearhig completion. That was not stated nor is it a correct summary. What I did say was; that it was apparent about 18 months ago that further hospital accommodation would have to be provided, that the, position r with regard to children was acute as I personally knew because I was then a patient, that we could not get a start with, plans for additions until we had appointed a new architect in January 1942, that the l Board had done its best to hasten the plan * work, that there had been delays difficult to explain but not. on the * part of the Board, and that now the plans of all proposed alterations were nearing completion. I then pointed out that on completion of the new women's ward the old. wo- ' men's ward would be used as a children's ward. "I would like more particularly to draw your attention to the following:— "The agony was piled on," said Mr Buddie, "when *a letter from the Director-General also required under the Hospital Administration Emergency Regulations, in addition to its present duties, to provide accommodation for patients of. the military, or Allied forces.'" The implication contained in that pub-, lisihed statement, is far from what was said or implied. When II informed the Council that theses Regulations; imposed on Boards the new duty of providing hosiptal accommodation for soldiers, I remarked: "No one would objject to that," to which remark there were murmurs of assent from some of those present. I then proceeded to point out the objectionable portion of the Regulations, viz. the power for the Minister to suspend a Hospital Board and appoint, a commission to control and manage the Hospital' in the event of the Board failing to perform any of its duties."