TRANSPORT OF PATIENTS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4853, 15 July 1925, Page 3

TRANSPORT OF PATIENTS

SETTLERS ON HAURAKI PLAINS. LAUNCH ARRANGEMENTS MADE. > Following on a report submitted by Nurse McNamara, district nurse at Patetonga, to the Thames Hsopital Board at its June meeting relative to the difficulty of transporting patients to the hospital from certain parts the Hauraki Plains during the winter Mr H. L. Berney for investigation, months, the matter was referred to At Monday’s meeting of the Thames board Mr Berney stated that he had gone into the matter thoroughly. He explained that the position had become more acute since ,a Thames launch proprietor had discontinued the launch service on the Piako River. He had interviewed a launch proprietor at Kerepeehi with a view to arranging for the conveyance ol urgent cases from the upper reaches of the Piako River to Kerepeehi, where the ambulance would meet tne launch. The prices submitted by the proprietor were : Patetonga or Mangawhero, night trip £2 10s, day trip 35s ; Kaiherc and Torehapc 255. Such charges were submitted only conditional upon the board guaranteeing payment. Mr Berney said that, in his opinion, the charges were very reasonable for the services of a special launch, and the proprietor was a careful man Who thoroughly understood the river. In reply to a member the chairman (Mr W. E. Hale) said that the board could pay the charges and collect them from the patient. He could quite understand that the launch pioprietor cculd not afford to stand out of his money. It was resolved to approve of the quotations submitted and to guarantee payment up to September 30 next. Mr Brenan said that he w,as desirous of lending asssitance to sickness and necessitous cases, but he wished to point out that the board was doing a great deal for the-settlers in that district in proportion to other parts of the boards area. The chairman agreed, but pointed but that the settlers on a portion of the Plains were seriously handicapped owing to there being no regular launch service.