TROUBLE OVER MERGER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2163, 14 August 1920, Page 2

TROUBLE OVER MERGER.

WHO PAYS FOR OTAKI HOSPITAL "]

(Manawatu Times.)

At Thursday’s meeting of the Palmerston North Hospital Board, Mr J. K. Hornhlow moved that the following resolution, passed at a previous meeting of (he Board, should he rescinded: —“That this Board agrees to the Health Department taking over Otaki Hospital institutions on the understanding that the consumptive portion becomes a Government institution entirely; and the Cottage Hospital at the end of the war. or when the Government so desires, he again taken over by the Palmerston North Hospital and Charitable Aid Board.” He said that the motion had been passed during a press of business at a previous meeting- of the Board, and that a number of the members of the Board had not understood that a matter of great importance had been dealt with. Me wished it to he plainly understood that neither lie nor the Board had ever advocated that, the Otaki Hospital should he closed down. A spasm of unrest had passed through I lie Ilorowhenua district at the thought that the Otaki Hospital might he (dosed. Twelve years ago the lirst suggestion had come from the Ilorowhenua district that the north part of the county should merge with the Palmerston North Hospital District. It was thought that it would he mor« humanitarian and more convenient if patients who were within a stone’s throw of the Palmerston North Hospital should he brought here instead of being taken all the way to Wellington, When the Palmerston N. Hospital District was formed many years ago, Ilorowhenua was given the opportunity of coming in, hut this opportunity had not been made use of. While the Hospital Board had no objection to Ilorowhenua coming into its district, it had decided objections to being saddled with the upkeep and administration of the Otaki Hospital. The idea of admitting Ilorowhenua was in accord with the Board’s policy of centralisation. When a deputation had come to the Hospital Board from Ilorowhenua more recently, n had hedn understood that if the county were merged with (he Palmerston North 11. , pital district, the Board would not undertake the uukeep id' the Otaki Hospital. Had this point been raised, consent to the merging would never have been given. ’l.he Ilorowhenua district’s contribution would no! provide maintenance and upkeep for the Otaki Hospital. Dr. Valinlinc had informed the Board that the Health Department would take over the Otaki Cottage Hospital in conjunction with the Sanatorium, and would take in any patients who so desired and charge their maintenance to the Board. Ihe Palmerston North Hospital Board should only continue its arrangement with the Ilorowhenua County on the condition that the Health Department took over the hospital, and that the Board pay maintenance of inmates, as at present.

Mr Bramwell, in seconding the motion, said that he was distinctly of the opinion (hat the Board did not realise at the lime the motion was carried what the position was.

Dr. Whitaker pointed out that when the resolution was carried it was during the war period, and that conditions had not altered for the better in the way in which the Board hoped, they would. Inlorliiiialeh the resolution, ot. the Horowhenua people had hardened as regards making the institution :i bigger and better one, which would add to tbf already heavy expenditure and cost of upkeep. K they rescinded the resolution they could then approach the Department to see what action thev were prepared to take in the limiter.

Mr Heim. who spoke against the motion, said that unfortunately there had been no definite understanding in the matter in the firstplace. He asked the Board to fulfil their obligation and lake the hospital over. As a matter of fact, he did not think the public of the district would mind under whose control the institution - was, but they wanted to make sure that the hospital was not going to be (dosed. Had they thought it would be (dosed they would never have agreed to the Board's taking over the district. In referring to the need of the hospital in the district, he pointed out' that in the last three years there had been 200 eases per annum through the hospital from all parts of the district. Last year there were 100 patients, and 08 operations Inu) been performed. All this Mmwco that a hospital was urgently needed. Some of the patients treated had come from outside the hospital district. The institution was up-to-date, and well equipped, and was recognised as one of the model small hospitals in New Zealand. With regard to linance, he believed the hospital was costing the Board £1,500 per year, or perhaps a little move. Even if it were £1,700 per year they* received £537 per year in patients’ fees, which would have to he deducted, so that it actually cost the Board about £l,lOO. If the Board were running the hospital thev could collect that money.

The secretary pointed out that: there was great difficulty in collecting the money, especially from cases outside the Boards district: the Wellington Board would not pay them, jus! as they would not pay the "Wellington Board. Mr Penn went on to say that the Government subsidy would also assist in reducing the cost of upkeep, and he pointed our that Horowhenua district contributed something like £1,500 per annum to the Board's funds, which would probably be

doubled under the new valuation. He also mentioned tlial Ilorowhenua were paying £SOO tor live years foj the privilege of coming into ? the Board's district. - ■. The Ghairman (Sir James son) said he was certain that'if the Board had thought that they would have to take over the hospital they would never have included Hovowhonua in (heir district. Mr Hornhlow said that Mr Penn should make it clear that the Board had novel' expressed to the people of Ilorowhenua that it was intended to dose the institution; also Mr Penn had omitted to state the saving to Ihe Ilorowhenua County in levies through being merged. Mr Broad licit: Can we gel the assurance of this Board that they would not close it ?

The Chairman: Personally I would not be prepared to give any

such assurance

Mr Broadbolt : That bears out the conclusion we had come to that it would be closed.

Mr Hornblow said that unless the Ilorowhenua County were prepared to pay a differential rate to pay the expenses of the Otaki Hospital, or the Department look it over, it would have to be closed. The Chairman said that it was (jiiite clear that an agreement entered into by a previous Board did not bind this Board, especially if the circumstances had changed, as they had done in this instance. He suggested that Otaki might be cut out of the Board’s district and, merged into Wellington again. Mr Penn: The people would run a Hospital Board of their own sooner than close the hospital. The motion was eventually lost by seven voles to six.

Mr Penn then moved: “That the Public- Health Department be notified that the Board is willing to take over the control of the Otaki Cottage Hospital at the end of the financial year." This, he said, was the natural sequence to (be loss of Mr Horublow's motion. He was willing io hold the matter over till all the Board’s members had'inspected the hospital. —Mr Broadbell seconded Ihe motion, —Mr Bramwell pointed out that passing that motion would leave them in the hand- of the Department. Propel' conditions should be drawn up and the whole mallei’ thoroughly investigated, before, any such action was taken, —Mr Hornblow also opposed (ho motion. —Mr Vincent moved as an amendment : “That the Board’s medical advisory committee be empowered to enquire into cases treated at the Otaki Hospital from the date Ilorowhenua joined this district, and to report to the Board whether, in the best interests of the patients, any or fill, the cases could have been treated at the Palmerston North Hospital.’’ After some further discussion the* amendment was carried.