The Opotiki News Monday, November 6, 1939. OPOTIKI HOSPITAL AFFAIRS

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 255, 6 November 1939, Page 2

The Opotiki News Monday, November 6, 1939. OPOTIKI HOSPITAL AFFAIRS

Opotiki -residents will learn with considerable relief that the trouble in connection with the administration of the Opotiki hospital appears to have been settled at last. At the .monthly meeting of the board on Friday, there was a much better atmosphere andi it now appears that members are determined to let any differences drop, and to work for the future harmony and welfare of the hospital. Probably had the present and previous boards taken the public more into their confidence, the trouble would have been settled much earlier. As it was the Press jvas not in a position to publish much that.has taken place at many board meetings for two or three years and it has only been in recent months that the public has becnf able to know more of what has Jje'en going on.. The changed attitude of the board is all to the good of the district, Opotiki residents having every right to know the workings of the hoard, the members of which, after all, are the elected representatives of the people. The wrangling and quarrelling that has gone on for such a long period ha s done considerable harm to the district, which has gaindcl notoriety almost from one end of the country to the other. Opotiki is anxious toi retain control of its own hospital affairs but the trouble in connection with the hospital has. been causing many Opotiki people real concern, as it has been feared that affairs could quite easily be taken out of the hands of a local board.

'Without in any way easting any reflections oil previous superintendents, Opotiki lias been very fortunate in securing the appointment of Dr. Clifford James, who lias had considerable- experience. and in addition to being a capable surgeon, is ah authority on tropical diseases, paving worked in the islahds for a number of years. A number of major operations have already been performed at the Opotiki hospital very successfully, despite handicaps, and there is now no needi for Opotiki' residents to go away to other hospitals, with attendant risks through having to travel long distances. The board intends to encourage Opotiki people to support tlieir own hospital and is cooperating with the new medical superintendent in every way. It is pleasing to note that, instead of the additional patients being a further burden on ratepayers, the fact that residents will receive treatment in their own district should result in an appreciable saving to the board, which has had to guarantee fees to several other hoards, these fees representing a very large sum each year.

As any eorrespondlenoc dealing with past affairs of the Opotiki Hospital Board is likely to cause unnecessary friction and hinder the return of harmony in the conduct of the administration of the hospital, the Opotiki New, s has decided to close its columns to such letters.