King Country Chronicle SATURDAY, NOV. 9, 1912 HOSPITAL FACILITIES.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 516, 9 November 1912, Page 4

King Country Chronicle SATURDAY, NOV. 9, 1912 HOSPITAL FACILITIES.

The suggestion contained in the report of the Chief Health Officer to the effect that in backblock districts subsidised medical services tihould be instituted by the Hospital Boards will meet with general commendation throughout the King Country. The disadvantages under which settlers in new districts are placed in respect to medical facilities constitute a problem to which the best efforts of those engaged in the management of hospital affairs may well bo directed. Various schemes have been advocated from time to time, and as the conditions ot each locality are dissimilar in some respects it may bo assumed that no hard and fast system need be adopted concerning the form which the suggested service should take. Moreover the conditions of the backblocks are subject to somewhat radical changes as settlement progresses,and the Hospital Boards require to have a fairly free hand to deal with individual cases on their merits. A system of cottage hospitals in various localities has been advocated, but it is obvious that the number of auxiliary institutions it would be possible to establish in any district must be limited. The scheme projected by the Pio Pio residents in the shape of having a doctor installed at the centre, and of having an emergency ward established at the doctor's residence is probably as far as it would be possible to go in any outback locality, but that, the necessity for such institutions exists is beyond argument. Both the public and the members of the Hospital Board are becoming fairly well educated on the subject of hospital requirements for the district, and the suggestion thrown out by the Chief Health Officer will doubtless rocoivo the consideration which it merits. An important factor in the case which should not' be lost sight of is the roads question. It is manifest to all that as the roads of the district arc improved the drawbacks of the settlers will bo immeasurably lightened, and from the humanitarian standpoint every effort should be directed towards road improvement, which is one of the most important medical facilities that can be provided. The meeting of the Waikato Hospital Board, to bo held next week, will consider the report of the committee appointed to collect information concerning King Counry hospital requirements, and the result of the deliberations will be awaited with interest.