HOSPITALS AND CHARITABLE AID.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2164, 21 August 1907, Page 2

HOSPITALS AND CHARITABLE AID.

AID

ANNUAL REPORT BY DR VALINTINE.

“HOSPITALS ARE OFTEN OLD MEN’S HOMES.”

(Special to Times.)

AVELLINGTON, August 20. The annual report of the InspectorGeneral of Hospitals (Dr. Valin/tine) was presented to Parliament this afternoon.

The total expenditure for the last financial year.was:—Hospitals £184,865, Charitable Aid £66,558, total £251,453, as compared with the pre-" vious year:—Hospitals £167,437, Charitable Aid £103,272, total £270.709.

Dr. A T alintine states that reform in the methods under which tho Hospital and Charitable Aid system is governed is undoubtedly needed, but he asks the Minister (Hon. G. Fowlds) to withhold the new Hospital .Pill until he has gleaned a better knowledge' of the working of tlio system, and lias h#d an opportunity of discussing the reforms necessary with those who have had special experience as to its working in various parts of the colony. “No one,” he continues, “could visit our hospitals without being struck by tho large number of beds occupied by chronic or incurable patients, not ill enough to justify their taking up beds in a public hospital, but too ill to warrant their being treated in the ordinary wards of an old men’s home, where they would have to rely on the unskilled help of their fellow-inmates. For such, special wards or institutions are necessary. Many of our hospitals are little more than old men’s homes. This is especially the case on the AA r est Coast, where one home for the whole district is bad).v needed. As to charitable institutions for indoor relief, Dr. ATalintine remarks: “I have seen enough of these homes ■to say that where possible they should be well out of tli P towns, and on lairly large plots of land. ' The inmates liavo to bo given leavo at times, and tile temptations of the town are often too strong for them, consequently the name and discipline of the institution suffers. Many inmates can also do a certain amount of work which helps to keep them well content, and with less time to criticise those in authority over them.”