HOSPITAL BOARDS' CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 2 November 1920, Page 3

HOSPITAL BOARDS' CONFERENCE

(“Argus” Report )X A conference of Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards was held in the Coun. cil Chambers Greymouth yesterday afternoon Dr Valintine (Inspector-Gen-eral of Hospitals) presiding, others present beji'ng: Dr Wylie, (Director of Hos pitals); Dr Owen Johnson, (Superintendent of the Grey River Hospital); Messrs J. McCarthy, G .R .Cottle, F. Skoglund and F. Williams (Grey River Hospital Board); Messrs J. W. Shanks and E. R. Fox (Westport Hospital ,Board); Messrs R Wild. ancLG. Davidson (Hokitika Hospital Board); Messrs W. Dunn and H. Betts (Inangahua Hospital Board).

In his opening remarks Dr Valintine dealt with the hospital system of the Dominion. In 1907 people looked upon public hospitals as charnel houses, but to-day their views had changed and people realised the value of such institutions. With reference to the system of control, an expert’s opinion was that there was no system better fitted to be adapted in the British Empire than the New Zealand system. The speaker then dwelt on the idea of amalgamation. He urged those present to consider the amalgamation of Hospital Boards, with the base at Greymouth. Another matter of importance was tnat each of the four Hospital Boards on the Coast, with the Hokitika excepted had ain Old People’s Home in conjunction with the hospital and this he considered was a- big mistake. He knew the conditions under which the old people were housed on the Coast, and such were not a credit to a community noted for its generosity and warm heartedness. He only asked them to go to other dis-

tricts in New Zealand, and, they would see how far behind the Coast was in its provision for the old people. He did not wish to speak personally, or convey any offence, but he could not help but state that the conditions under which the old people at Greymouth were housed, was a scandal. He urged a central institution for the whole of the Coast. It was quite necessary to have such an institution within easy reach of a medical man, and it might be best to establish it near Greymouth. Speaking of the facilities provided to expecfant mothers, he said Westland was far behind other districts in this respect and he hoped a maternity ward would ho established at the various hospitals ; whilst for the outlying district there would need to be established cot. tages for nurse-midwife activities. There was another matter he would ask tlid Boards to consider. For some time past the West Coast Boards had been sending their consumption patients to Cashmere Sanatorium; but the demand on this institution was becoming so great that it would be necessary to establish another sanatorium in the South Island. Investigation by experts had led to the choice of Central Otago as being undoubtedly the best place in the South Island to erect a sanatorium. Tn Clyde, Otago ,an American University had offered the New Zealand Government a telescope valued £IOO,OOO on account of the clarity of the air. He asked the collective Boards to seriously consider the question of establishing such an institution, which would cost in the vicinity of £50,000. With regard to Government assistance, they could be quite sure that West Coast Boards would receive a larger subsidy than had been granted in the past. In conclusion he said he felt sure that those present would view the various questions in the wildest manner and assist the Department in a successful administration. Dr Wylie urged the Boards on the Coast to combine and have established on the Coast special departments for treatment. With such methods properly co-ordinated they had the finest hospitals of New Zealand. At the present time there were untrained masseurs and men practising in electrical treatment, who were endeavouring to fill a gap which medical men, as a profession, and those present as representatives of Hospital Boards, should themselves achieve. In answer to the question: Why should they support special departments? lie would say (1) They were going to cure more people than had been in th'e past; and (2) where people were suffering from incurable diseases, they were going to relieve them of much pain. The X-rays was the most important instrument for fighting cancer, by obtaining the best results at operations, whilst in the inoperable cases the X-rays assisted in minimising, the suffering of cancer patients. A lengthy discussion followed, during which Mr Wild said that with regard to the establishment of special departments, he favoured the idea of centralisation, always bearing in mind the uncertainty as to whether the population of the Coast would warrant an elaborate undertaking. He supported the poroposal for a combined old people’s home, established, say within a mile or so of Greymouth, so that the institution could go in for agricultural works and thus minimise the cost of upkeep. He woul3 move; “That the Conference meets with approval the scheme for a centralised old peoples’ home, to be established within a reasonable distance of Greymouth.” This was seconded by Mr Betts. Mr Dunn moved as an amendment that the proposed old people’s home be established at Totara Flat. There was no seconder, Dr Valintino pointing out that a big difficulty in having the home there would be the absence of a medical man. After discussion, on the suggestion of Dr Vnlintine, Mr Wild withdrew the latter part of his motion; which left the wording: “That this Conference meets with approval the centralisation of an old people’s home on the Coast.” This was seconded by Mr Betts and carried unanimously.” Mr Davidson favoured the establishment of a centralised home, with sufficient ground to allow of providing milk, butter and vegetables which would mean economy in unkeep. Ho was voicing the opinion of other mem bers of his Board in saying that they wanted economy, and this could only be obtained by th 0 purchase of a. block of land sufficiently large to enable the home to become in a way ingDr Valintine, in making a final reference to the site purchase near the Greymouth Hospital, said he had visited the place in company with Drs. Wylie and Johnson, and though ad-

; . mitting it would serve excellently fot ■ the extension of the hospital, he would certainly object to such a fatal i-tep as utilising the site for the erection of an old people's home. On the question of establishing a sanatorium in Central Otago, all present were in favour of such a scheme. On the motion of Mr Betts, seconded by Mr Fox, hearty votes of thanks were accorded to Drs. Valintine and Wylie for their addresses that after noon and for the valuable assistance given to the Hospital Boards - n the Coast.