"HITHERTO-"

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 982, 24 November 1910, Page 2

"HITHERTO-"

LORD ISLINGTON ON PROGRESS. ISOLATION HOSPITAL OPENED. "Hitherto," said Lord Islington in opening the new Infectious Diseases Hospital yesterday, "there has been a blot on hospital treatment in Wellington. There has been a lack of suitable accommodation for infectious diseasj cases. The old infectious, ward was unsuitable in situation and inadequate. Speaking generally, those occupied in hospital administration will agree that their aim is, as far as possible, to centralise. Ordinary patients, whether adults or children, are undoubtedly better attended to if the buildings in which they are accommodated are as'adjacent to the administrative system as possible. And I am glad to think that in a short time this ideal will be realised in' Wellington. In a few months'the new children's ward will have been erected adjacent to the main hospital. But, in the case of infectious diseases hospitals, the ideal of centralisation can. not apply. E°r the safety of the general public isolation, must here be secured. It may be of interest to some to know why it has been found necessary to expend JC 10,040 on an infectious diseases hospital. AVell, in recent years, especially in England, ■ the proper manner of dealing with cases such as scarlet fever has been given a .very careful attention. . Tho subject has been forced on tho attention of the proper authorities by the fact , that, under the methods in vogue, a certain proportion, of patients discharged from _ institutions for the treatment of infectious disease apparently returned to their homes still ,impregnated with disease, is « result the burden has been imposed of dealing with a proportion of return or secondary patients. In addition to this there has arisen a belief, based on less reliable evidence (but undoubtedly seriously held by many authorities), that patients treated for infectious disease in public isolation hospitals have shown a tendency to de-' velop complications to a greater extent than patients attended to in their own homes. _ ''This has produced in certain quarters a hostility to isolation hospitals, and undoubtedly these institutions have to that' extent incurred discredit. But there is 110 justification, I will venture to' say, for any discredit being cast on isolation hospitals as such. That cases of infectious disease should be accommodated in isolation hospitals- is proved beyond question by the' fact that wherever isolation hospitals have been established in great centres there is invariably a corresponding diminution in deaths from scarlet fever and other infectious diseases. What has taken place in all large and up-to-date institutions 'is'"thit the' necessity for segregating patients has cohio to bo recognised. Patients in various stages of disease must be domiciled in separate wards.- This being secured, cases of after-complica-tions can be avoided. In this way not only can the danger to the patient, be greatly diminished, but tho danger of the patient disseminating-the disease can ha diminished in a like degree. I think that everyone will agree that tho conditions which I have' outlined aro admirably provided for in the new Infectious Diseases Hospital at Wellington." . After referring in terms of praise to the plan and sito of the new building, his Excellency explained his reason for alluding at some length to details of hospital-planning and management. He said: "It is my desire and intention, as long' as' I have tho honour, to be Governor of New- Zealand, to express recognition i and appreciation of any effort to' apply to the task in question principles, that science and modern experienco have proved to be most effectual. These must in the long-run be most profitable to the country concerned. This principle which I have enunciated applies with equal forco to commerce -and' industry-as it. does to health problems. I am imbued with the idea that this is : the true road for Nov.' Zealand if it is to progress- and advance." His Excellency,, at the close -Of ."his speech', formally declared tho hospital open. About 150 people attended the ceremony. : Besides his Excellency there were present : Lady Islington, the Hon. D. Buddo (Minister for Public -Health), Captain ' Shannon, A.D.C., the Hon. C. M. Luke, .Mr. E.- C.-Kirk (chairman."of the Hospital Committee), and other members of the Hospital Board. Dr. Frengley represented the Health' Department. Apologies were - received from Mr. J. G. W. Aitken (chairman of the Hospital Board), who ■was unablo to; attend through illness, from Dr. Valintine (Inspector-General of Hospitals), and from the Mayor (Mr. T. M. Wilford). . . The Hon.'D. Buddo, who spoke briefly in congratulatory strain, complimented the board on the completion of a building that should meet all possiblo requirements for many years to come. ' At''the instance of Mr. Buddo, tho Rev. W. Evans seconding, Lord' Islington was accorded a vote of thanks :for his presence and for his very practical address.'