OUTDOOR MEDICAL. RELIEF.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1262, 18 October 1911, Page 6

OUTDOOR MEDICAL. RELIEF.

PROGRESS OP AN EXPERIMENT. An interim return, covering two of tho three months' experimental period of tho Wellington Hospital Board's system of outdoor medical relief service, was tabled at tho (ward's meeting yesterday. The return showed that the number of cases reported was 11. Thirteen wcro accepted as indigent cases, and one was declined as "not indigent." Keren medical practitioners forwarded reports on cases which had como under their notice. Hospital indoor treatment was prescribed in six cases, and homo treatment in seven cases. The 13 cases accepted woro classified: Ordinary general cases, 11; accidents, 1; obstetric, 1. Twenty-sis visits were paid in connection with tho general cases', and one visit each in tho accident and obstetric cases respectively. Tho medical fees totalled .£lO 195., and tho chemists' fees for prescriptions were exceedingly small—the exact figures were not available. .Mr. R.. Ci Kirk expressed some surprise that the eases reported had been so few in number. Had there been any laxitv? Mr. ,T. W. JPKwen (e.hnirman of tho Charitable Aid Committee) replied that the return afforded evidence of the fact that tho necessity of tho indigent poor with regard to outdoor medical relief was not nearly so great as had 1-een represented to tho committee. Another month's trial would he (riven to the fystem, and it would then bo for tho board to review the whole question. It was accordingly decided that tho experimental outdoor meriical relief service bo continued until the date of tho next board meeting, in order that tho board may bo in possession of the full results of the three months' trial when discussing the question of future action.