CONTROL OF T.B.

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 86, 14 June 1946, Page 5

CONTROL OF T.B.

SOUTH AUCKLAND SANA- ' TORIUM SHOULD BE STATE PROJECT inclusion or otherwise in the projected Tuberculosis Sanatorium for the South Auckland district was the subject of considerable discussion at the meeting of the Hospital Board yesterday. From members remarks it was obvious that the Board was not in favour of pledging any further financial obligation in this direction and this attitude was reinforced by a letter from Ward 6 (Bay of Plenty) of the N.Z. Counties As- ~ sociation urging that the whole matter should be regarded as a national undertaking without incurring any responsibility on any individual district ratepayers.

Dr. J. King, district T.B. Officer attended the meeting, and pointed out that in his opinion it was not fair to make, an allocation of beds upon a population basis, as the T.B. prevelance in Auckland was estimated at 1 in every 250, and in the Bay of Plenty at 1 in 200. The-correct way would be to go on the number of cases treated in the past. Over the past year there had been 187 treated in Opotiki, 390 in Whakatane, 327 in Tauranga and 505 in Thames—roughly totalling 1400 cases for the four areas. On this basis he would suggest that the beds allocated in the proposed new Sanatorium be: Opotiki 3, Whakatane 9, Tauranga 7 and Thames 11. He asked the Board to agree to this allocation and suggested further that circulars be px*inted for the guidance and after-care of patients. Mr Buddie commented that members were not in a position to commit the Board one way or another. It was obvious however that they would have to be guided by the medical officer in the number of beds, and providing this were done without prejudicing the future actions of the Board he could not see that any harm was done. Mr Suckling: We are all holding back awaiting a statement from the Government. The Chairman: If a Chest Block were erected here in Whakatane, would that affect the position of Sanatorium patients? Dr. King: No, not much. There are different types of cases and the more advanced would be treated here and sent to the Sanatorium afterwards.' The letter from the Counties Ward, urging that the Sanatorium should be regarded as a national responsibility was then read. Mr McGougan promptly said that he was entirely in accord with the letter and it was time all Boards dug their toes in and refused to sponsor any expenditure of this nature. He for one did not wish to mislead the other Boards on this issue and thought it better to tell them so. Mr Burt: Wait till we hear what the other people say about it in the Waikato. The Chairman: We have done our best to urge that it should be a Government responsibility but have been unsuccessful. However we can reply to the Counties letter telling, them that we are of the same mind! A motion by Mr Burt that the whole matter of the Sanatorium be deferred until after the recommendations of the Select Committee were dealt with by the Government was finally carried after an amendment agreeing to the number of beds suggested by Dr. King, without committing the Board in any way was defeated. The question of supplying suitable T.B. publicity sheets for the aftercare of patients was left in the hands of the secretary.