OTAKI COTTAGE HOSPITAL

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2226, 13 January 1921, Page 3

OTAKI COTTAGE HOSPITAL

SUGGESTED CONTROL BY DEPARTMENT.

A conference was held at Otaki yesterday between a special committee of the* Palmerston Hospital Board (Sir James Wilson, Messrs aornblow, Vincent, Smart, Bramwell and Penn), and the Inspector-Gen-eral of Hospitals (Dr. Valintine) and Dr. Wylie, of the Health De-, partment.

A deputation comprising members of the Otaki Town Board and Horowhenua County Council and Mr W. 11. Field, M.P. for Otaki, waited upon the Departmental officers, and protested against any attempt being made to close the hospital, or interfere with its efficiency. Air Field was the spokesman on behalf of the deputation; Dr. Valin'iine assured the deputation that there was no intention to dose the hospital or interfere with its standard of efficiency.

Assured on this point, the depulation withdrew, after thanking the Departmental officials. The conference then opened between the Board members and Departmental officials. It was explained that the merging of the Ilorowhenua County in the Palmerston Hospital .district would not have been sanctioned by the Board if it meant the taking over of the cottage hospital. The Department, however, bad removed this obstacle by running the cottage hospital in conjunction with the consumptive sanitorium, and charging maintenance fees to the Palmerston Board, which arrangement was considered satisfactory until the Depart merit requested the Board to lake control. It was pointed out that dua.l control by the Department and Board would lead to trouble and dissatisfaction, as other remote parts of the district would apply for similar small hospitals, which was against the policy of the Board and Department. Extra nccommodafin had been provided at the base hospital at considerable capital expense to provide for the accouimolation of patients from Hohowhcruia district.

After a. full discussion, Dr. \ alntine said lit* would recommend to he Minister for favourable consid■ration that the Department coniiuic the supervision of the Otaki ullage hospital on such terms as vottld he submitted to the Palmerson Board for llieir eonsideratjon md approval.