INFECTIOUS CASES,

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1572, 30 September 1905, Page 3

INFECTIOUS CASES,

DIBOUSSION OF HOSPITAL trustees.

At the meeting of the Hospital Trustees yesterday the question of an isolation ward for infectious oases was discussed. Regarding the diphtheria case refused, Dr DeLisle, district health officer, had telegraphed on the 25th that the case must be admitted to the Hospital, and in a letter following stated:— 11 1 call your attention to seotiou 5 of the Public Health Amendment Aot, 1903, by which you will notice that your committee is not justified in refusing to admit such cases, I fmther oall your a.teotion to sub-section 2 of tbc said BeotioD. showing that the cost of the treatment can be recovered from the local authority.” Ho directed tho attention of tbo Trustees to two previous letters, in which he bad advised tho Trustees . The secretary of the Charitable Aid Board forwarded plans and specifications passed by the health authorities. Modifications were suggested to lessen the cost. The erection of outdoor shelter for consumptives was urged, Attention was j called to the need of a, padded room in connection with tbs Hospital. The Chairman BAid the Charitable Aid Board provided the funds, aod the Hospital Trustees dispensed them. He disagreed with Dr DeLisle, and said the Health Officer had previously written that it was inadvisable to have a ward for the reception of infectious diseases in the hospital grounds. He (the Chairman) always opposed the creotion of a ward for infectious oases in the hospital grounds; the 1 medical profession were also against it, and the Chief Health Officer had also expressed himself against it. An infectious ward and gonsotnptiva shelter on the eame

grounds as tho hospital might load to serious oonsoquouoes. Mr Dewing: How about other plaoee ? Tho Chairman : In other towns thoy aro still biekoriog about it. In Christohuroh tboy want thoir infeotioue ward pot away on tho top of the hill. Mr Dewing said wherever tho ward was put owners of adjacent property would raise objection. Tho Chairman said it was for tho Charitable Aid Board to find a section and put up a place. He was glad the quostlon came up again, for at one time tho matter had boon practically fixed, but tho Charitable Aid Board did not proooed further. Captnia Tuokor said tho Oharitablo Aid Board considered their duty was moroly to provido funds, and that tho proouring of a site and putting up a ward rested with tho Trustees. It had been suggested that one of tho borough seotions could bo used, those on tho Waikanao being preferred. There should bo no difficulty in gottlng a | site. As for a consumptive sholtor, a few pounds would meet tho caso. One dootoi was at present treating u ease in a oanvas shelter, which cost very little. It was resolved on tho motion of Captain Tuokor, seconded by the Chairman, “That tho Trustees take steps to provido a sito and to ereot a building for isolation cases and consumptive shelters.” Captain Tucker further moved that a padded room be provided at the Hospital for cams in whioh this was necessary. The Chairman objected tj this, con siiering the police station the proper place, and after further disousston it was | reso'ved that a letter bo written to tho Government pointing out the urgent necessity at Gisborne for a padded room for the treatment of delirium tremens and casual oases of insanity, as Buoh oesos could not be got away from here speedily for treatment.