TUBERCULAR PATIENTS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 73, 13 May 1946, Page 5

TUBERCULAR PATIENTS

SOUTH AUCKLAND SANATORIUM

WHAKATANE FEARS FINANCIAL BURDEN

The proposed scheme of the Waikato Hospital Board to construct a Sanatorium for Tubercular sufferers at Hillcrest, Hamilton, for the benefit of patients drawn from the South Auckland Hospital Board districts was the subject of discussion at the meeting of the Whakatane Hospital Board last Thursday. Members feared the financial implications of such a scheme which it was felt might grow into an intolerable burden with' comparatively little benefit.

A letter from the Waikato Board enquired the probable number of potential patients from the Whakatane district who would be requiring treatment, and further intimated its disappointment at the negative reply of the Government when asked to meet the capital costs plus the treatment of'Maori patients. In the same connection the Thames Hospital wrote seeking support for its •contention that contributing hospital districts should not be rated on the basis of the number of beds allocated, but rather on the rateable capital value or population.

The chairman, Mr J. Mullins, who with Mr Suckling attended the conference of South Auckland Boards in the above connection reported that already 100 acres had been purchased by the Waikato Board which would assume responsibility for the erection of the buildings. The new establishment would be worked in •conjunction with the existing Waikato Chest Block. . As Whakatane had only had three T.B. patients treated by outside institutions last year and as the number appeared to be consistently small, he personally was undecided as to whether for the Times campaign on Sunday into the scheme.

Mr Suckling confessed himself very unhappy about the whole subject. The financial obligation might be out of all proportion to the number sent to the institution.

The Board decided that the whole matter should be held in abeyance in the meantime.