HOSPITAL PROBLEMS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 121, 24 May 1937, Page 11

HOSPITAL PROBLEMS

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE

(To the Editor.) Sir,—ln the "Evening Post" of May 18 a "'lengthy report appeared pi the report of the Mayor of Petone to his council, and the discussion that' ensued thereon. If I interpreted Mr. Scholefield's proposals correctly, they are as follows: — 1. That it is an accepted fact that the new hospital for which the board seeks a large loan is to be a complete hospital in every way, entirely independent of the present, institution. 2. In this case, therefore, the question of building this new hospital alongside the present institution should not be taken as an accepted fact. 3. As the new "hospital is to be a complete self-contained, unit the old institution would serve as an auxiliary. 4. By the unanimous agreement of all the Hutt Valley local bodies the time has come when hospital facilities must be made more readily acceptable for the large and growing populations of those areas. . 5. Therefore, by bringing the new base hospital to a point nearer these centres of population, ,the Hutt Valley could probably, be served adequately by: :an: auxiliary-hospital', r That is. ; to say/a'hospital,' complete:and modern* situated in the- area ■ between - .Wades? town and Johnsoriville, would be much nearer to those districts where expansion is, taking place, while two auxiliary hospitals—one at Newtown and the other in the Hutt Valleywould serve the immediate and ordinary needs of the districts surrounding them. ' If I have set out the position correctly these proposals deserve the serious consideration of those responsible for the provisions about to be made for the future. It seems that Wellington is inevitably committed to a heavy capital expenditure, and these suggestions would greatly reduce the expenditure on a" Hutt Valley i hospital. The residents of this district would then naturally contribute towards the upkeep of the base hospital. One thing is patent: that we must look forward, and visualise the position in a few years' time. The problems of road communication and available sites will arise and by the time any scheme comes to fruition much more water will have flowed under the bridge, so there is no time •like the present, befor. this heavy expenditure is undertaken, to arrive at a planned hospital economy covering our needs for a reasonable number of years ahead. It is quite obvious that the large body of residents now living in the Hutt Valley, and the many .^thousands more who will assuredly settle there in a short space of time, must have quicker and better hospital facilities than they now enjoy. Not only is the safety of human life and the preservation of health at stake, but there is ,&n enormous invisible economic wastage, both, to the individual and the community, in the travelling it is necessary for patients, doctors, visitors, and all of the many who find it obligatory on them to do to go to and. from the present hospital at Newtown. I have not touched upon the effect upon the different districts these new schemes will have in regard to the apportionment of the financial burden, as I feel that the first principle involved is that of providing in the name of humanity hospital aid where it can best be utilised. Nor have I dealt with the probable effect of imminent legislation covering health and superannuation, which may tend to Increase the demand made for hospital accommodation, just as the enforced Certifiv cat? of Fitness for motor-vehicles has increased the work of motor engineers. I hope that- any schemes endorsed by our representatives will be put to the electors (not ratepayers alone) for approval, and that a widespread and intelligent interest will be evinced.—l am, etc., '.

HUTT VALLEY RATEPAYER.