OTAKI HOSPITAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 2998, 13 February 1926, Page 3

OTAKI HOSPITAL.

BOARD WITHDRAWS ITS GUARANTEE.

The Otaki Hospital wa*s never taken over by the Palmerston Hospital Board. When the Horowhenua County was merged into 'the Palmerston Hospital district, the understanding was that Horowhenua should contribute its proportion of cost to provide extra accommodation at the Palmerston hospital as a consequence of the merger, which was done. Wlhen the Palmerston Hospital district was constituted, Horowhenua county objected to inclusion and preferred to remain in the Wellington Hospital district. Years later Horowhenua woke up to the fad that by merging into the Palmerston hospital district it would relieve ratepayers of a considerable proportion of its hospital levy; also that the Palmerston hospital was treating a majority of its district patients. The merger was agreed upon by the Palmerston Board conditional that the Otaki Hospital was deleted. The Health Department took control and administered the Otaki Hospital making the Palmerston Board responsible for patients’ fees. The Health Department find that the administrative cost of the hospital cannot be justified and decided to close the institution. This naturally aroused the opposition of the Otaki public. The Hospital Board offered to favourably consider the erection at Otaki of an emergency ward in charge of a nurse. This suggestion did not meet with Otaki’s opproval and in order to bring the matter to finality a notice of motion was tabled at the January Board meeting to the effect that the Board withdraw its guarantee of fees for patients in the Otaki hospital as from April Ist, 1026.

Dr Valentino, Director-General of Hospitals, was made aware of On, notice of motion and stated that, it would be better in the interests of patients Unit, the Otaki hospital should be closed. He recognised the local difficulties in the matter, but if the Board decided to withdraw its guarantees, the Department would advance no objection. Eventually the premises would be used merely as an emergency hospital. At Thursday’s meeting of the Board, the notice of motion was moved by Mr. J. K. Hornblow and seconded by Mr. J. Vincent and carried by 8 votes to 5.