HOSPITAL OUT-PATIENTS

Chronicle (Levin), 20 April 1946, Page 3

HOSPITAL OUT-PATIENTS

^ r The town clerk (Mr. J. T. Bpvis) has received a reply from the man-aging-secretary of the Palmerston North Hospital Board in connection with the enquiry concerning the treatment of Shannon outpatients at the Palmerston North Public Hospital. The managing-secretary advises that treatment was not refused at the out-patients' department to persons who applied for treatment without either a doctor's or a nurse's recommendation. However, any person coming1 from. Shannon for treatment should ' in his or her interests- apply either to his or her medical attendent, or to the district nurse, as delays, etc., would be avoided if this course was adopted. It would be appreciated that at the out-patients' department special clinics were organised when patients were required to attend;on special days. Arrangements ih the patients' own interests should be made either through his doctor or through the district nurse. Urgent and accident cases were, of course, always given immediate attention and the answer to the council's second question was in the affirmative. The questions a(sked by' the eouncil were: -(l) If a person could be taken to the out-patients' department of the public hospital without first consulting a doctor or the district nurse; (2) If a patient could be taken to the out-patients' department of the public hospital for treatment if the district nurse or a doctor was not available.