A HOSPITAL BOARD MATTER.

Shannon News, 27 July 1928, Page 3

A HOSPITAL BOARD MATTER.

TOO MUCH CENTRALISATION.

* As reported recently a conference took place between the Charitable Aid Board's officer (Mr Aisher) and local representatives in respect to the supplying of medicine by the Board outside Palmerston North. A recommendation was made to the Borough Council ; that they "eater a strong, protest agahi9t the administration of charitable aid Shannon, especially the necessity of sending to Palmerston for medicine, and asking that the co-oper-ation of other Boroughs in the Board's district be solicited. This eame before the Borough Council on Tuesday night. Cr. Thwaites said that the question had arisen over a local when a requisition had been received by him from the Board's representative to supply medicine ordered by the doctor for a local family in poor circumstances, which the Board now refused to pay for, they stating that all medicine must be obtained from their dispensary in Palmerston North. It affected him personally as it happened, and as he was connected with the matter, he had no wish to use the Council for pulling the nuts out of the fire. As far as it affected him personally, he could deal with the Board himself.: He said that the position not only affected Shannon, but all the other country districts that eaine under the Board. If a person was not able to pay for medicine they were not able to send to Palmerston for it. The Council were there to represent the j "Unfortunate members of the community as well as the forturfate members. The Council should enter a strong protest an;d also obtain the co-operatioif of the Boroughs in the Board's district to have the present rule regarding the supply of mediein* outside Palmerston altered. The position showed the need for direct representation on the Board; The Board entrusted the local constable with' requisition forms and if a "hard-up" came along and told a good story, which in some cases were quite genuine, the Board made no quibble about paying. The same applied in the case of food, but not so in that of sickness. In the case before them, that of a sick child, delay for a couple of days would probably have meant a cot case and the danger of the child losing its life. This attitude of the Board forced the hand of the chemist in the country by throwing ■ all chari-. table aid on to him.

Cr. Cuvran, jun.: The rule is absurd and.a protest should certainly be made to the Board by the Council, It is not humane that anyone -should..have • to wait for medicine to come from Palmerston North. It'was resolved to write to the Board drawing their attention to the position that has arisen and suggesting that the Board's officer be empowered to issue requisitions for urgent medicine, to-be procured locally; also pointing out thain the case of Shannon district the Raihvay and Postal Departments' services are not convenient in cases of urgency, and that medicine cannot be procured for at least two days. It was decided to forward copies of the letter to Messrs Monk, Catley and Ilorhblow, the Maiiawatu district re-, presentatives on the Board. Cr. Curran, jun., said he was strongIly of the opinion that, the Board should enter into an arrangement with: chemists in each borough in the Board's district.