MILITARY SANATORIUM.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18367, 28 April 1925, Page 11

MILITARY SANATORIUM.

to las iditob ot "thk jtkss."

Sir, —I crave space as a military patient of the past twenty-two months to comment upon the "explanation" by Mr Otley of the conditions existing at this institution, as published in your issue of Friday last. Firstly, I fear that Mr Otley in framing his "explanation" was suffering from an incipient attack of electionitis, the first symptoms of which are his intense desire to smooth over an awkward situation. As to the food, my impression is that the standard of food as supplied here is very considerably reduced since I entered into residence twenty-two months ago. If Mr Otley thinks "there is a difference between standard and quality, I assert that it is the quality of the food that has so much deteriorated- If Mr Otley will not agree with this, will he please explain why, in response to complaints, he visited this hospital three times during the pastyear, and on each visit devoted a large portion of his time in enquiring into the food and patients' complaints regarding food? There has been no reasonable complaint regarding the medical attention given to patients here. Every attention has been paid to them that they could expect in an institution equipped like this one.

But concerning Mr Otley's figures. Can he explain why the salaries item here is so high compared with the civil hospital down the hill? Here are the details:—

Salaries account —Military: 70 patients, £6134; average per patient, £B7 10s. Civil: 144 patients, £6224; average per patient, £43. Domestic costs —Military: £4603; average per patient, £65. Civil: £5570; average per patient, £4O. Why does it cost so much more per patient for the staff up here, where there have been so inanv complaints? The reason seems plain to us patients: because the facilities there for treating bed cases are of the latest and the hospital is fitted with every convenience for tho staff and work, while her© the conveniences are no credit to the management, and the medical officer and nursing staff have to work under extremely difficult conditions. Does Mr Otley reduce liis business staff whenever his sales show a temporary falling off? If not, why does he advocate the reduction of a hospital staff whenever the number of patients decreases? Does he anticipate that the limit of T.B. patients has been reached, and that it is safe, or even proper, to reduce the staff every time there is a death amongst the patients?— Yours, ITENRY O. BURROWES. Military Sanatorium, Cashmere, April 26th.