THE OTAKI HOSPITAL.

Otaki Mail, 2 May 1923, Page 4

THE OTAKI HOSPITAL.

VISIT BY HOSPITAL BOARD | MEMBERS.

In accordance with the annual prac- , tico, several members of the Palmerston North Hospital Board journeyed on Tuesday to Otaki to inspect the cotj ioge hospital and the sanatorium there.

One of the chief objects of the visit I v..:is to become more fully acquainted j with the working and character of the "Jatter, which at present is run by the Health Department, which is now proposing to make its maintenance a charge on the hospital boards of the Xorth Island. The hospital is administered by the Department, but the Pali merston North Hospital Board guaran- ! tees the tees of all the patients. The 1 only contribution which the Hospital I I Board at present makes to the sanatori- ! j uni is by way of guaranteeing the fees j ' of the inmates who come from its own ; district. The Inspection.

I Following luncheon at the seaside re- | sort, an inspection was made of the

hospital. The wards, X-ray department; j electric lighting plant, and outbuildings | wore examined. In reply to questions , put by the visitors, it was stated fchat the cottage hospital had on nn average seven patients, but could accommodate many more if necessary, The Sanatorium. The sanatorium was next visited, and it was ascertained that there were in j the institution 42 tubercular patients

who came from all over New Zealand, and a great number were awaiting admission. It was explained that: the inmates were taken for graded walks according to their condition, the limit being five miles. The gardens, areas of native hush, lawns and drives about the sanatorium formed ideal surroundings lor the neat rows of open air cubicles where the patients regained health in the salubrious cliinat, —for here there are only kepi those sufferers from consumption who have a chance Of being' cured, and most of them are cured, when the disease is arrested in the initial stages. All the patients arc women, and mosl of lliein remain For about six months, stated the matron. Miss Scaly, who conducted (he party about the institution. Department Criticised. I'rior to returning home the members ••I the party were entertained at afterIhe Health Department thai the Pukeurn (Wuipukurnu) and Otaki sanatoria

I !><■ maintained by the joint boards of j the Noilh Island was discussed. T-;i this connection Mr Hornblow -ugI gested that n reply should be sent to Mho department 'and reasons drawn up why they should aoi lake over the in- . stitutions. It might be suggested that j there be a conference of boards in this I matter. j Sir das. Wilson stated that such a i conference had already been suggested by the department, the proposal of which they must resist. Mr Hornblow said that of late economies had been effected in many State departments, and more recently in the Health Depart men I. The sanatoria had been very rosily, and ii would be unfair | to place their maintenance on the hosj. pital boards. Were the responsibility of management to bo placed on the \ boards they would still have dual control, and the proposal of the department must be resisted. Dr. Valinttne, .Director-General of Health, was •''tinning a somesault" in now Hying to j throw the responsibility on the boards, j for the opposite had been his professed j intentions some time ago. j Mr Monk agreed that the proposal j must be resisted, and sir -las. Wilson I said there would be many financial J problems to be faced if the board had j to administer the Otaki sanatorium—j especially in the matter of borrowing, I I'or that they would have to do. "If ;we accept responsibility in this mailer

of tubercular cases it may be the thin end of the wedge' to thrust upon us mental eases also,'' he stated.

: Members were at one on this point, r ami it was decided to take action on the lines suggested by Mr Hornblow. I To a reporter the secretary, Mr Fras--1 or. stated that were all the hospital 1 boards in the Xorth Island to pay their quota according to capita] value as suggested, it was estimated by the department that Palmerston North would haveto contribute annually £IOOS by subsidy ami levy. It had to be remembered. also, that between the capital value of the Wellington and Palmer-ton Xorth Hospital Board districts there was nor a great deal of difference, the figures being £35,502,574 and £29,257,7G4 respectively. As many more patients would, come from Wellington than from Palmerston North, it would be seen that the proposed basis of contributions was hardly fair. In paying the fees of the patients from its own district at the sanatorium the Palmerston Xorth board was now only put to the expense of about £SOO per annum. It was decided that an endeavour should be made to ensure the collection I of a greater percentage of patients' 1 fees in respect to the cottage hospital, j