South Canterbury News High Vacuum Sterilisation Wanted In Timaru Hospital

Press, Volume C, Issue 29497, 26 April 1961, Page 15

South Canterbury News High Vacuum Sterilisation Wanted In Timaru Hospital

A motion by the chairman of the Sooth Canterbury Haepital Board (Mr H. J. Clark) that a deputation co to Wellington to disease high vacuum steriiiaaUan. and its installation at Hmara Hospital. with the Department of Health, received unanimous support at the monthly meetinc of the board on Monday. Mr Clark said he found it hard to understand the department’s attitude, as there was no doubt that high vacuum autoclaves were the answer to safe sterilisation. Where the health of the patient was concerned, the very best system and latest equipment should be used. "Near enough is not good enough when there is a risk of infection and public health is endangered," Mr Clark added. He said the Medical Research Council of England was so concerned about the old form of sterilisation becoming a hazard to patients that a committee subsequently recommended the introduction in all hospitals of high pressure high dressing autoclaves and high pressure sterilisers to replace the boiling-type water sterilisers now in use (and as now installed in the new Jean Todd Ward block). "So concerned was the British Minister of Health that he instructed all hospital authorities to implement the council’s reports," said Mr Clark. Frustrated The medical superintendent at Timaru Hospital (Dr. J. C. McKenzie) said he had felt increasingly frustrated over a number of matters, such as the appointment of psychiatrists to public hospitals, and more particularly, the question of high vacuum sterilisers. "We became aware of this new development, and made application to the department. We have been turned down while another hospital has been allowed to go on with it. We have reached the conclusion that the new system is the proper and modern one,” Dr. McKenzie continued.

He said he had been told by the department that the system was “unnroven” and that a trial plant was being operated at Wellington. “We should push this matter,' because it has been known that

sterilisers in use do not sterilise.

"The department is quick to enforce other matters—such as the extravagant system of turning oh taps with the elbow, and not with the hand—but there is no technical reason why these machines should not be put into us— I am quite satisfied the reason is financial.

“The department is making us install plant that is known to be inefficient, and in some degree a danger to patients,” Mid Dr. McKenzie.