OTAKI HOSPITAL.

Shannon News, 30 April 1929, Page 3

OTAKI HOSPITAL.

MATERNITY AND GENERAL WARDS SOON TO BE READY.

REVIEW OF THE POSITION.

In the course of his address on hospital matters in Levin on Friday night, Mr G. A. Monk briefly referred to the long dispute over the Otaki hospital, the retention of which he Avas largely responsible for in the face of strong opposition. The position, he said, Avas that in 1916 the military authorities asked that the Sanatorium be banded over for T.B. cases amongst the soldiers. The Wellington Hospital Board agreed but said that they must take over the hospital also and run it as a civil hospital. They agreed to do that. When the lloroAvlunua transferred to Palmerston in 1918, the sanatorium and hospital were being administered by the Health Department. The chairman of the Palmerston Board asked about the hospital and Avas told that the Health Department Avas running it. The Hon. G. W. Russell Avas then Minister for Health and Avas talking about nationalising the hospitals. Three years age the Department asked the Palmerston Board to take the Hospital over, but the Board refused. Considerable discussion had gone on since then and the Health Department had largely been responsible for the position that had arisen. The Palmerston Hospital Board was not so much to blame. The Board agreed tAVo years ago to take over 'the Hospital, but considered that it should have a sufficient area of land with it. It Avas found that the land was still in the name of the Wellington Board and should have gone over AA-hen the district Ava-3 taken ewer by Palmerston. There Avas really 38 acres, but the Palmerston Board only asked for ten acres. The Board also asked that, as the hospital had been alhnyed to fall into ruin, it should be fully, restored. Mr Mcnk said he Avas responsible for the establishment in connection with the Otaki Hospital of a small maternity Av'ard Avhieh he was satisfied would fill a need in the district. “It-has taken two years to get as far as we have got. We have that hospital brought up-to-date and wo have the maternity-ward. The Department has got through its part of the bargain, but it lias taken them two years. It is only going to take us a month to furnish and staff it.” Mr Monk added that the Board had uoav *avc maternity instituions and neither had cost the district a penny piece. That- in Palmerston had been built bypublic subscription, and that in Otaki by the Health Department.