WAS THERE DELAY?

Shannon News, 11 October 1921, Page 3

WAS THERE DELAY?

CASES REPORTED THREE WEEKS ■' ■• AGO. / , ; ; At Saturday’s meeting of the Tlorowhenua County Council, allegations ol delay were made by Cr; Harkness, and were repudiated by the chairman ,so far as the Hospital Board was concerned. The following circumstances seem to: show that unjustifiable' delay'; has taken place somewhere, and that there is need of improvement in the machinery for the care of the public health. An Ohau resident informed a Chronicle reporter this morning that on September 15 he addressed a letter to the Public Health'Officer, Levin, and followed with another letter oil the 16tli pointing out that an outbreak of influenza had occurred at Muhunoa, and asking that steps be taken meet the situation • No reply was received to either of these letters, though it is only fair to state that no officer of the Health Department is located at Levin, the district being managed from Palmerston.. On October 3 another letter was dispatched to the Health Department, Wellington, stating that the situation was very bad; and that four deaths had taken place, also asking that action be taken at. once. It is understood that when the conditions at the pah became intolerable a Maori resident wrote 1 to Dr:, Porhare and asked; for something be done. Dr. Pamare at once broght the matter under the notice of the Hon. Mr Parr, Minister for Public Health, and' prompt action followed through, the Palmerston Hospital Board. The Board’s officers certainly acted speedily, but we understand that complete equipment was -not in readiness at Palmerston for such an emergency, and this had to be collected from various, quarters. Even then, as will. ,be gathered, from the statements made concerning the conditions at Ohau, the Board was only able to put a very incomplete and inadequate hospital at the service of the nurses and patients. It seems as though the health authorities, whether they are the Department, the Hospital Board, or the local body, have still a good deal to learn in the direction of preparedness for emergency and coping with the emergency when it arrives. '

COMMANDEERING THE OHAU HALL. . PROTESTS BY RESIDENTS. Dr. Valintine, who was in Ohau tins morning, inspected, tlie public liali with a view to opening a hospital there lor the native patients. The residents oi Ohau naturally resented this, and a meeting oi protest was called, with the result that it was decided to telegraph to ihe Prime Minister, the Minister ior Health, and Mr W. 11. Field, M.P., strongly resenting the proposal to bring patients infected, with a dangerous disease right, into the heart of a populous area when the situation already chosen lor the marquee hospital was quite a suitable one if properly handled. Dr. Valintine, in reply lo ihe meeting’s protest, pointed out that if he wanted the hall he would take it. The conditions prevailing in Ohau have rather seriously affected the school a.ttendance, fifteen' of the scholars being affected, and naturally, there are fears of the trouble spreading further.