“CENTRALISATION RUN MAD.”

Shannon News, 17 July 1928, Page 3

“CENTRALISATION RUN MAD.”

SHANNON PATIENTS MUST GET MEDICINE FROM PALMERSTON.

REGARDLESS ' OF HEALTH AND

EXPENSE

What appears an absurd position has arisen in Shannon in regard:to the attitude of the Palmerston North Hospital and Charitable Aid Board in respect to the supplying of medicine outside of Palmerston North. Recently, Mr Thivaites, our local chemist, received a requisition issued by the Board s Shannon representative to supply medicine ordered by Dr. Maekereth for a local family who are in poor circumstances. Mr Thwaites supplied, this and duly forivarded his account to the Board, Avhieli iioav .repudiated the claim, stating its representative. . had no authority to issue the requisition and that it is against the Board’s ruling. On Saturday, the Board’s officer (Mr Aisher) was in Shannon, Avlien he was Avaited upon in connection with the matter by the Mayor, Messrs Tlnvaites and Doavucs, Dr. Maekereth, and Constable Blaikie. ■ The position was placed before Mr Aisher, who-stated that the; Board’s ruling in respect to supplying medicine was that all prescriptions bad to be made up, at the Board’s dispensary-in Palmerston North, and that no person had authority to issue requisitions for medicine to be made up locally. Mr 'Thivaites: It is evidently centralisation run mad ivith the Board. Ihe position is absurd. He said it’ivas'the first time payment had been repudiated whore medicine had been sanctioned. .

Mr Aislief: No. Some time ago a member of the Board at Feilding gave a requisition, and the Board refused to pay it. • - - Dr. Maekereth said the position ivas absurd. The delay in sending to Palmerston North Avas a factor against economy on the part of the Board, instead of catching an illness in the early stages. The mails from Shannon to Palmerston North were inconvenient and Hf a special trip had to be made no person under charitable aid could pay the cost. It meant a delay of two ;o three days and if persisted in trivial cases would have to be sent to the hospital. It ivas absurd to expect medicine that had to come from Palmerston North, to facilitate recovery. No one in Shannon, he said, ivas in a position to carry the responsibility of the Charitable Aid Board", and they'would be faced Avith having to refuse goods and be accused of failing in sympathy. The Board could quite Avell make arrangements for material,to be supplied, Some enquiry should be made into the question. Often a simple 2s Dottle of medicine would stop the course of a disease, which -otherAvise AVould take weeks, to clear up. . •- Mr Aisher said that during his 26 years as the Board’s official, the ..present. policy in regard to supplying medicine had been ill'existence.' • ■ The Mayor: It is time the rule; was altered. .

Continuing, Mr Aisher, said ho was only an official and it was a Avaste of time to discuss the question further with him. He advised them to place the matter before the district', representative on the Board. As the result of the conference it was decided that it be a recommendation to the Shannon Borough Council to enter a strong protest in respect to the administration of charitable aid in Shannon and that the co-operation of other boroughs in the Board’s district be solicited.