SANATORIA CONTROL

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 135, 4 December 1929, Page 17

SANATORIA CONTROL

hospital ■■Boards' ' tiEcisioN ;

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

PALMEESTON N., This Day. A conference; of delegates.-from .the' Hospital Boards "of "the"''Nortii Island to-day de clined to form a group to take over the administration of the Pukeora and Otaki Sanatoria from the...Departnient, in view of the fact that the institutions were being economically-run "already,1" tho conditions ot admission were satisfactory, and there was nothing to show that the boards could ma these sanatoria more efficiently VVhen addressing the to'ge- number of delegates present, both the Minister of Health, the Hon. A. J. Stalhvorthy, and Dr. I. H. A. Valintine, stressed., the fact that there was no desire to'force Hospital .Boards in one direction or another. Dr Valiutine said that, whatever was decided^ there was enough sanatorium accommodation in both islands. There, were 50 vacant beds at Pukeora, but if the hospital boards decided to take over Otak: they would probably have to provide 25 more beds Dr. Valintine mentioned that, although the North Island had only two santoria, and the South Island had four the death rate in the North'lsland was decreasing more than in the South Island.- Accommodation at Pukeora had not been taxed toJts.utmost, but that at Qtaki had, although it.had not been necessary to refuse patients admission. It would be seen, he said, after quoting figures thaf-the death rate in the Dominion had decreased and the action of the hospital boards in the Dominion had gone a long way towards achieving this happy state of affairs. "We will hand these sanatoria over to you, lock, stock, and: barrel, and, more than that, will hand over to you tho £2000. odd that the Government intends spending on Pukeora,' and £12,000 odd on J Otaki Sanatorium. If you can run them I better .than the Department, then all power to you, gentlemen." he concluded. ■, . :'. •'■ .•■ „.... . •'. - • ..•

The opinion 'was Ventured-by several delegates that the Hospital Boarda could not run the sanatoria better than the Depart ment was doing. Mr. J. K. Hornblow chairman of the Palmerston North Hospital Board, after considerable discussion, withdrew his motion that the control of the sanatoria should, be taken over by the North Island Boards'.

, Mr. W. E. Hales "(Thames) proposed: That m the opinion of the Hospital Boards of the North' Island it is not op-: portune at present to raise the question of the control of Oaki and Pukeora Sanatoria, especially in view of the report that they are evidently being managed satisfactorily, and also that the admission of patients is satisfactory in the North Island." This motion was. carried unanimously. Health Department representatives present were: Dr. T: E. A. Valintine, Direc-tor-General; Dr. R. A. Shore, Director Division of Hospitals; Dr. G. Maclean, Pukeora Sanatorium; Mr. A. V. Keisenberg, Secretary to the Department of Health; and E. Cannons (secretary of Hospital Boards' Association). Representatives of hospital boards were: Messrs.' W. Craig (Cook Hospital, Gisborne), T. Davey and R. A. Peey (Wairoa Board), F. J. Williams and J. Todd (Waiapu Board), C. R. Honeyfield (Patea), W. Wallace, Rev. Woods, E. Potter and W. Soccerville" ;(Auckland), C. H. Burgess, G. Viekers, E. Holden (Ta'ranaki), W. L.' Kennedy (Stratford), W. Searle (Hokianga), R. F. Beautiars, E. Calderwood (Taumarumii),C. M. Luke and R. Brown (Wellington), C. More and E. Rees (Hawkes, Bay),, W. E. Hales (Thames), D. Drummond and W. Dobson (Dannevirke), J. M'Carrpll (Bay of Islands, Monganui, Whangaroa, Whaiigarei, and Kaipara), R. Fisher (Wairarapa), C. Johnstone and E. G. Johnson (Waikato), S. T. Kerman |(Wanganui), T. Stein (Dannevirke), T. R. Smyrk (Waipawa), J. S. MTCiiy and E. Harrison (Hawera), Vinning (Stratford).