INFECTIOUS DISEASES.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 227, 3 October 1901, Page 2

INFECTIOUS DISEASES.

ERECTION OF ISOLATION WARD. J HOSPITAL TRUSTEES WILL PROVIDE SITE. Tuk question of the erection of an isolation ward for the treatment of eases of infectious diseases came up for discussion at a special meeting of the Hospital Trustees last evening. called for the purpose of considering the following letter from the Borough Council: — Gentleman, —I am instructed to again write you iu reference to the erection of an isolation ward in connection with your hospital. Although the Council, or any other local authority, have power to erect an emergency hospital, or contract for the use of the existin'.- nospital, as provided for in sectious No. ill) to -11 of " The Public Health Act, 1000,” the Council are of opinion that it would bo more in the interests of the public generally if the said ward was erected by tile present Hospital Trustees, and in that case all the district would benefit and pay equally, and it would not become a borough monopoly. The suburbs of Haiti and Whataupoko are now growing into importance, and are just as much in need of an isolation i\ard as the borough of Gisborne. Full power is riven under sections i>o and it 1 of " The Hospital and Charitable Aid Act, lStvf for the district Board to undertake such a work and levy accordingly, or it may bo carried out by your Board and a levy made in accordance with Section No. til of the " Hospital and Charitable Aid Act, 188,s." Therefore, I trust that your Board will again consider this important question.” R. D. B. Roiitxso.N, Town Clerk. The following members were present : Messrs Nolan (Chairman). Kennedy, Harding, Maefarlane, Tuohy. Joyce, Johnston, Warren, and Dewing. The Chairman said that since the above letter had been received, another communication had come to hand from the Charitable Aid Board to the following effect:—

“ I am directed by the Board to convey to you the following resolution passed at a meeting held on Ist inst.: That tnc Board respectfully recommend the Hospital Trustees to make suitable provision for tho reception and treatment of persons suffering from infectious diseases in an isolated building to be erected on the Hospital grounds, and that the Board would be prepared to contribute by wav of requisition in terms of ‘ The Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act, 1885,’ the cost of the erection, equipment, and maintenance of such isolated hospital.” Mr Joyce, in an impressive speech, urged the Trustees to accede to the request of the Council. He contended that the Hospital authorities should undertake the erection of the ward, and make a levy on the local bodies of the district. If the Borough Council built a ward at their own expense they would not take in country patients. The Hospital Trustees were tho right body to provide such an institution, seeing thftt they represented all local bodies in tlxe district. He had not the least doubt that if tho work were started, many people would be willing to subscribe. He instanced Auckland, Napior, and other places in the colony as an example for the Board to follow in having an isolation ward on the Hospital grounds. They had plenty of land, and provision could easily be made for the equipment and maintenance of the ward. lie concluded by moving the following resolution : “ That the request of the Borough Council be acceded to, and that the Trustees take steps to built an isolation ward on tho Hospital grounds.” Mr Warren seconded the motion, at the same time stating that he would not give it what might be termed his unqualified support. It had been stated that the erection of an isolation ward would cost .£IOOO, but he did not believe that anything like that amount would bo required. His own opinion was that £2OO would bo sufficient. So far as cooking and other appliances wove- concerned, these could be obtained from the central building. He thought that a building to accommodate four patients would bo sufficient, and if greater emergency arose provision could bo made to meet it. Everything could be done without noise or ceremony, and tho Hospital Trustees could levy on the Charitable Aid Board and other bodies.

Mr Johnston stated that he was present with Mr l’ownloy at tho interview with Dr. DeLislo, and the latter had stated most emphatically that it was the duty of the Trustees to provide such a ward. Dr. Do Lisle informed them that in Napier there was an isolation ward in connection with the hospital, and cases of scarlet fever, dipthoria, and bad eases of cancer were teated there. Mr Kennedy stated that eases of cancer had always been received at the Gisborne Hospital. Mr Johnson, continuing, said that Dr. DeLislo seemed surprised to hear that the local authorities had raised an objection to having an isolation ward in their grounds. The Speaker urged that the request of the Council should be given effect to, as it was clearly the duty of the Trustees to make provision for cases of infectious disease. Mr Kennedy said that ho quite recognised that a responsibility existed, and that someone should see that such an institution was established, hut he held that it was outside the function of tire Hospital Trustees. They were there for the purpose of attending to eases of sickness or accident, hut at all times eliminating from their functions the treatment of infectious or contagious diseases and chronic or incurable complaints. Someone must, however, take the matter in hand, and the Trustees had sufficient land to allow tho Public Health authorities to erect a building on their property. But to ask them to administer such an institution was quite outside their duties as an Hospital Board. He was quite in favor of such a building being erected on their property, under the conditions set forth in the Charitable Aid Board’s letter. He would point out, however, that this was the first indication that they had had from tho Health authorities that the Hospital Board was not to undertake the sole responsibility of such cases. If the Health authorities were honest in their request, and would provide for tho erection, maintenance, and equipment, then

ho thought it would he wrong on their part to oppose or in any’ way hinder such a movement. The isolation ward must be administered by a separate staff, who

could not he allowed to come into touch with tho Hospital administration. The Borough Council in their communication had endeavored to put the whole responsibility on the Trustees, but in the letter from the Charitable Aid Board it was stated that that body would undertake the erection, equipment, and maintenance of the institution. There was, therefore, no reason why they should oppose it being erected on their grounds. Mr Johnston thought that as a matter of economy for the ratepayers it would be ‘ inadvisable to have separate management. It would certainly prove too expensive.

Mr Kennedy replied that it would ho impossible to have mixed management. They could not allow tiic staff of the hospital to be in attendance at the isolation ward.

Mr Macfarlane sold that in regard to what Mr Johnston had stated, the Health Act provided that such institutions should be separate from the hospital. There would require to be separate attendance, and the cooking would have to be done apart. They had a trust which they must conserve. The Trustees could not allow the doctor to go from t!,c hospital to treat infectious eases a few yards away. Ho agreed with Mr Kennedy that they might give an acre of land upon which an isolation ward might be erected, but ho was opposed to the Board further involving itself.

Mr Johnston : Would it not be better to find out what is done in other places/ Mr Warren ; Surely we have brains to run our own show.

Mr Johnston : We might profit by other people's experience. In Auckland and elsewhere the isolation ward is on the Hospital Board’s grounds, and run by the same Board.

Mr Harding said that at Napier the cooking for the patients in the ’sedation ward was done by thj Hospital.' Mr Macfarlane'; But that will require to bo altered when the Act is in full working order. Mr Joyce; In Auckland the isolation

ward is close to the Hospital and under the same management. Mr Alacfarlnue said that the Trustees had no further right to take any action. They had nothing to inquire into. If the matter were taken up at all it should be done by the Charitable Aid .Board, which body could proceed to raise the necessary money in accordance with the Act. The Charitable Aid Board could appoint a fresh Board to manage it if they liked. Mr Tuoiiv stated that he had very little to say on the subject. lie was entirely against the doctor or any member of tile staff having anything to do with such a ward, Patients would not go into the Hospital if they knew that the nursing statl were daily coming in contact with fever cases. The staff of the Hospital should have nothing to do with the isolation ward. If they were allowed to do so he certainly would not consent to anyone belonging to him being sent to the Hospital. The feeling in the country was that the two matters should he kept seperate. Air Xolan was opposed to the motion because ho could not see that the Trustees were warranted in going to the expense of erecting an isolation ward, which was seldom used. It had been stated that the cost would he .£'2oo, hut they could not put up a building worthy of titc name for that amount. The original ward cost something like .i'AUO, and less than that amount was of no use. The sum of £2OO was utterly insufficient for such a purpose. He had had a conversation with Or. Do lisle on the question, and had asked him what sort of a ward would he necessary. Dr OeLisle told him that an up to-date ward would cost from £BOO to £IOOO. He (Mr Xolan) considered it would take quite £IOOO to erect and equip a ward. If the Charitable Aid Board took the matter in hand they would have to provide a building to the satisfaction of the Health Officer of the district. There was little necessity for the ward, and the Trustees were certainly not warranted in going to the expense. There had only been two cases for which such ti ward was required. A similar outcry was made in IS,SI or ISB2, when the old ward was built, through a case of scarlet fever being taken into the Hospital. The ward was built in ISS2, hut was never used. In ISSti it was furnished, and a year later was used _for a home for the members of the nursing staff. If the Charitable Aid Board thought proper to erect the ward they could do so, but the plans of the building would require to he approved of by the Health Officer or someone else in authority. Personally, lie thought that it was an outlay that was unnecessary. Ho thought that if the health authorities were to pay someone a retaining fee there would he little difficulty in finding a suitable place. Air Dewing said that you could not get anyone to take such cases in. Ho lull had a little experience in the matter, and know something of the difficulty of getting

a place. Mr Nolan said that lie was sure if a retaining fee of XU) a year were offered, there would bo found persons who would be willing to receive and attend such cases. Mr Mowing said that it would mean a great saving of expenditure. The Chairman said that it was a pity to rush the matter, because it was an outlay which was not warranted. Mr Mowing could not see where the outlay of £IOOO came in. All that was required was a cottage, and that would not cost anything like that amount. Mr Joyce having replied at some length, the motion was put and declared lost on the voices. The letter from the Charitable Aid Board was then dealt with, the Chairman remarking that lie was quite agreeable that the Charitable Aid Board should erect, equip, and maintain an isolation

ward. Mr llardiug thought the letter was a very feasible one, the offer being very fair.

Mr Nolan said the Trustees would require to sec where the money was coming from before they would go to the expense of preparing plans and specifications for the building. If the Charitable Aid Board also wished to take over the management of the ward they could do so. Mr Johnston said that the Trustees could rest assured that the Charitable Aid Board would require the Hospital authorities to take over the management. Mr Kennedy was thoroughly in favor of the terms of the letter being complied with. The Trustees would, he felt sure, provide a site if the Charitable Aid Board would erect, equip, and maintain the

ward. Mr Johnston : But they want us to manage it. Mr Kennedy : 1 see no reason why wo should not manage it for them. Mr Macfarlane: Tho plans must he submitted to the Health Officer, so that an up-to-date ward shall bo erected. Mr Warren said that ho would strongly oppose spending L’IOOO upon a ward. lie considered that something over A'2oo was all that was required. lie charged members with a change of front on tiic question, and was at a loss to understand tho reason of it. Mr Nolan denied that it was a change of front. The Trustees had been asked to do a thing which they could not do. They had been asked to put up a place, and make a levy on tho Charitable Aid Board, and this they had no power to do. Now they woro dealing with a body who asked them to erect the ward, and they would find the money. Mr Harding considered that they wore not at all parallel cases. Mr Johnston moved a motion to the effect that the terms of the letter from the Charitable Aid Board he conmlicd with, the resolution being unanimously alopted.