HOSPITAL MATTERS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1424, 26 April 1912, Page 8

HOSPITAL MATTERS.

MR. RUSSELL'S INTENTIONS. DELIRIUM TREMENS CASES. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Auckland, April 25. The Minister in charge of Hospitals, the Uou. G. W. Eussell, had a conference with the Auckland Charitable Aid Board this morning to discuss hospital matters of the district. Sly. Russell explained that his meeting with the board was in pursuance of his policy of becoming acquainted with the boards throughout the Dominion. He paid a tribute to the importance of the bodies that administered local government. No matter how lons or how 'short a time the present Cabinet remained in office he could attire members that they would set up such a recrcl as would give the people u proof of what they would have accomplished had they lx>en given a chance. There were one or two matters ho would like to bring before the board, tli" iir.-,t being as to whether they could not by means of maternity cases and the co-operation of the boards be able largely to increase the number of maternity musts for service in scattered parts of 'the Dominion. In Auckland, owing to the large extent oi" territory, this question wus felt very' acutely. A nattier thing they miist consider was as to how far they could encourage suitable men ti> lake' up their residence in the outer districts. The matter of trained nurses was a most important one. The object of the hospital system was twofold, the first being to provide sufficient nurses for work in the institution, and the second to train nurses for work outside th« institution, so that they could spread their knowledge for the gcod ol the community. In cases where it was found impossible to provide a msilica man for ilio.-e out-ide districts, it would be a good thing to provide the settlers with at least a trained nurse, who would b= a croat boon, especially to the women in their hour of trouble. Ho also hnp°cl it would bo possible to extend the svstmn of training Maori nurses whose work among the Natives did au mcalcula'ln a'nswer to. Mr. Potter, the Minister said the Hospital Board would be absorbed by the provincial councils. Mr. Potter pointed out that there was a rn-ent deal of special work in connection with the administration of a hospital which would be likely to suffer by the ° ThTilinister said the Bill provided for such a special set of circumstances by allowing provincial councils to appoint special committees from outside the councils themselves, such committees to advise the council on special matters. These committees would give expert advice. The chairman pointed out that if the beards accepted full responsibility for all Maori cases, it would be n very expensive thing, and he questioned whether the boards should bear it all. The Minister assured the board that the Government would recognise nothing in tho nature of a colour lino in public institutions, as between Maori and pakeha. Tho difficulties that are caused by having to admit delirium tremens cases into the general hospital were emphasised by the chairman. Mr. Hilssoll quite agreed that the.se cases were not suitable, for a hospital, and ho would look carefully into the hoard's request, for a special grant to provido ac commodation for them. He was informed by Dr. Valintine that a sum of ,£2OOO had been put on the Estimates for this purpose. Personallv he thought there, was a gap in our public institutions. Hβ did not believe in a person waking up in a mental hospital. There were a. number of what they might call "borderland cases." Ho felt that they might have some such institution as a rest hom*," where people suffering from temporary mental aberration would have a chance of recovering without having to set foot inside what were really lunatic asylums. He thought that in connection with delirium tremens cases they might devise some scheme by wliich those who made largo profits out of the liquor trade might be induced to give something towards providing accommodation for such cases.