OUT-PATIENTS BRANCHES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 240, 28 June 1918, Page 7

OUT-PATIENTS BRANCHES

A LABOUR J'UOIWAL. On behalf of tlio Trades mid Labour Council slid the Lujwur Kepresontatiun Committee, Mr. ("■!. Ward wailed nn the Wellincton H.osiiilal and Charitable An Hoard 'yesterday to urge upon tlio lxiard lho consideration of it proposal to set up bru.neh.vs 'of the outdoor patients' department in different parts of the city. Mr. Ward, who was tlio onlv one of Ihe deputation appointed who put in an appearance on lime, said that the organisation he represented had received complaints from Kelburu and other outlying parts, complaining of the dislance that had to be covered to obtain'trealmeut and medicine, and that frequently-when patients did attend at the hospital they had to wail hours to bo attended to owing to the number of ueoplo already waiting. Anr other complaint-was as totlic amount of money Unit had to be spent on (rain fares'to reach the hospital. Mr. Ward admitted that the hospital was situated in a tliickiv-seltled part of tlio city, but said that a considerable section of the comuiunitv resided at Thorndon, "Wadestown, Northland, and Kelburu. "When askeu if the' Labour Committee had any proposal to make, Mr. Ward said they had gono into themnttor, and thought that an out-patients' branch could be established at Thorndon, near to a chemist's shop. He had consulted .Mr. Leon Cohen, of Molesworth Street, who said that, he could provide a couple of rooms for the purpose at a rental of J-'SQ a year. When questioned as to how they proposed to arrange medical attendance, Mr. Ward said that an arrangement might bo made with ona of the oily doctors to attend at certain hours of the day.

The chairman (Mr. 11. Baldwin) asked if they had cousidcrod tho cost. Mr. B. G. H. Burn said that the expeuso was tho thing they had all been calling out about. They wero shortstaffed at tho hospital as- it was.. The board's policy concerned, firstly, the securing of medical men and then tho expense that would be incurred, lie asked what: they thought they could get. the services of a doctor for. . . Mr. Ward said that such services might bo procurable for between i! 200 and illlOO a year. Tho chairman pointed out that Thorndon was only one part of {lie town. There were Island Bay, Lyall Bay, and other distant parts that would need similar branches if Thoriidon wero provided for. At this point Messrs. A. Parlane and il. .1. Iteardon arrived. The former, on being invited to speak, said that tlicy'considered the health of the people more than the expense, especially at tho present time. Working people could not all'ord lo go to doctors on tho wages they wero getting. He looked at the matter from a national aspect rather than from one of pounds, shillings, and pence, as the health of tho ri>ing generation was of paramount, importance. A lady who accompanied the deputation said it wa.s almost impossible. lur a woman with three or four children lo get away to coma all the way from Thorndon to tho hospital, whereas she might bo able to do so if tho place were more central. The hospital was situated in a vi;ry_ out-of-lhe-way place for tho peoplu of juiivarra, .Northland, and ".'liorndon. Mr. Burn reminded the deputation that the Government did not pay for the whole of the upkeep of the hospitalit only provided a small subsidy.. The hospital was maintained by the people, and they had to bo very careful in the matter of expenditure. ' If they thought it a matter of national importance,."they should go to the Government. The chairman: The out-patients' ward at tho hospital costs .£2OOO a year. Air. Parlane: The value of'two men! Surely it would save more than two lives! The chairman said that the mailer brought before them would be carefully considered, and in <\w course an answer would lie forwarded. Subsequently the board referred' the quest ion to thu Hospital l.'oniinilioe for consideration. '