CAMBRIDGE PATIENTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 837, 8 June 1910, Page 6

CAMBRIDGE PATIENTS.

! trouble over the new rules. ItEPLY BY HON. D, BUDDO. The complaints made in a letter in yesterday's Dominion by a patient at Cambridge Sanatorium regarding theamount and nature of the work which inmates of the institution are now required to perform os a result (it was alleged) of a scheme of retrenchment wero brought under the notice of the lion. D. Buddo (Minister for Public.Health) yesterday. Mr. Buddo, in reply, stated that the whole scheme of reorganisation at tho institution had been very carefully coii- | sidered before it was carried out. It | was his opinion that no injustice Jiad

been done to anybody under tho rearrangement. As a matter of i'act, part of the duties complained ot had always been performed by tho patients. He went 011 to say that he believed that the place was now fully stalled. It had tij be jemembcred that hospital 'cases were not now admitted' to tho institution, and it was intended to keep the new rules in iorce until they had had a fair trial. Ho far as ho was awaro 110 similar complaint had so far been received by the Department' lu the course of somo further remarks, Mr. Buddo mentioned that the duties in question had certainly not been imposed with a view to furthering any scheme of retrenchment. All modern authorities strongly recommended that patients should bo required to perform light' duties, as up to a certain degree occupation benefited them, but, ot course, 110 patient would be expected to perform any duty for wftich ho had not temple strength. The duties enumerated in tiio new rules could only bo described as being very light in character. l''or instance, putting things straight in tho shelters could hardly be called work, for, there was only a couch and a few chairs iu each shelter. The other duties prescribed also came under the category of "light work." In 110 case was a patient expected to do any gardening if he had not the requisite strength. As' the patients became stronger they were given tree-planting and similar work to do, and this was an occupation which greatly helped them to "build up," and become physically lit and efficient enough to take up positions elsewhere. Mr. Buddo went on to say that he thought that every visitor must have been pleased to note tho cleanliness and brightness of the surroundings at the sanatorium, and the cheerfulness of the patients themselves. Tho Chief Health Officer was indefatigable in his efforts to make the patients' comfortable, whilst the most suitable food was provided. ' Mr. Buddo added that there was accommodation at ; the sanatorium for a total of GO patients. Some few weeks ago it was practically full, fifty-seven patients being on tho roll. At present, however, there were only forty inmates, the reduction being due partly to further drafting of patients to tho tree-planting camps. Under the rearrangement of the, shelters only those patients who required the most careful attention were quartered in the shelters nearest to the main building. Those patients who occupicd the outer shelters wero considered to be so far recovered that there was no necessity for them to have a regular attendant. It was his intention to again visit tho institution as soon as lime permitted.