OTAKI HOSPITAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3689, 10 September 1927, Page 2

OTAKI HOSPITAL.

BOARD AND DEPARTMENT. CONFERENCE WITH DR, VALINTINE. Matters in connection with the Otaki Cottage Hospital were again discussed by the Palmerston North Hospital Board at its monthly meeting at Palmerston North on Thursday, but, even after conferring with Dr. Valintine, Director-General of Health, no finality was reached on this vexed question. The matter was brought up by the chairman, Sir James Wilson, who stated that last Monday, when conferring with the board’s executive, Dr. Valintine had again urged that the board take over the Otaki Hospital, but the executive had held to the previous resolution of the board, agreeing to maintain four beds for accident and urgent cases and also to provide maternity facilities, or to pay for patients treated from the board’s district at the rate of 9s per day, provided that such cases could not be better treated in Palmerston North, and, in addition, agreeing to maintain an ambulance at Otaki. DIFFERENCE OF OPINION.

The suggested new hospital at Otaki, as proposed by the board, said Dr. Valintine, in addressing the members, would cost about £3OOO, while the alterations suggested by the department would cost not more than £IOOO, £6OO being the architect’s estimate. Of this amount £SOO would be found by the Government. The board’s proposal to spend £3OOO he characterised as ridiculous. Otaki could treat minor accident and medical eases in addition to providing treatment for the aged and infirm.

The chairman: Our proposals are that we should maintain four beds, whereas you suggest that we provide 18.

Dr. Valintine: No; it is true that there is room for 18 beds, but we don’t suggest that number. Accommodation for four men and for four women should be ample. “We think,” replied Sir James, “that two beds for each sex are quite sufficient. If there is space for more, it is our experience that it will be filled. If we take over that hospital, it will cost us annually a large sum of money. Only one patient in ten from Levin and Otaki has gone into the Otaki Hospital, and we object to ratepayers over the whole district having to pay for the maintenance of a little hospital at one end.” Mr. J. K. Hornblow: This is an attempt on the part of the Government to bludgeon the board into taking over the Otaki Hospital. I d«n’t think it would be wise for the board to go back on the compromise which it made. It has to be remembered that the Otaki property —the hospital and the grounds—belong to the Wellington Hospital Board.

Dr. Valin tine: And they would be glad to hand the property over. A contrary opinion, stated Mr. Hornblow, had been voiced by a member of the Wellington board, that gentleman saying that Wellington would be prepared to sell the property. In this case the Government was apparently doing something without the knowledge of the Wellington Hospital Board, and he could not believe that Wiellington was prepared to give Palmerston North the grounds and buildings, in addition to some money vested in the institution. If the Government were doing its duty, it would close up a number of the smaller hospitals and pursue a policy of favouring base hospitals in the larger centres. BASE HOSPITALS FAVOURED. Dr. Valintine: That is my policy. Mr. Hornblow: You are now asking us to maintain a cottage hospital at Otaki. The Government should prevent the tremendous waste of money there is in maintaining “half-pie” institutions. I don’t see why this board should be bludgeoned because of a local agitation. If the people in Otaki think that they are not getting a fair deal, they can take steps to go back to the Wellington Hospital Board. “Or by forming a separate board,” jocularly suggested the chairman. Mr. Hornblow: Would Wellington ■ take them back? “Yes; if they had the chance,” said Mr. G. A. Monk. Mr. Hornblow 7 : Well, let them. I am not saying that- it is necessary but the point I am making is that the department is the responsible body. I feel it would be wrong for this board to go back and make any further compromise or concession on what has already been submitted. The department is asking the whole ol the district to pay for the treatment of people at one end, and that is opening the way for application from other parts of the dsitrict for cottage hospitals. Mr. Hornblow also stated that the Board had no't sanctioned plans as stated by the Director-General, nor had they seen the plans for a building to cost £3OOO. Dr. Valintine: The plans were submitted to the Board some time ago.

While not wanting to go back on any resolution carried by the board, .Mr. J. A. Nash, M.P., pointed out that the building at Otaki was in a first-class state of preservation. After inspecting it that day he was quite satisfied that, instead of going to the expense of putting up a new building, the board would be wise to utilise, under the conditoins the chairman had laid down, two wards there and add maternity facilities. If the Wellington Hospital

Board were prepared to hand the property over to the Government, and the Government, in turn, were prepared to say: “There are the buildings you can reduce them and utilise what is required and add a maternity ward, he thought that the board would be wise to consider adopting the department’s proposals. At any rate, he was of the opinion that it would be a wasteful expenditure to put up another building, and that the board, where it had suitable buildings, should utilise them.

The chairman: I disagree that any expenditure on the Otaki Hospital should be thrust on us, and, so far as I am concerned, the Government must find the money for the alterations.

“Although I have no authority to speak definitely,” said Dr. Valintine, “I will urge the Government to put the Otaki Hospital in a thorough state of repair.”

Mi 1 . Monk then moved that members of the executive inspect the Otaki institution arid confer there with representatives of the department with a view to finalising matters.

This was agreed to. —Manawatu Standard.