AGAINST GROUP CONTROL.

Shannon News, 6 December 1929, Page 4

AGAINST GROUP CONTROL.

ATTITUDE OF NORTH ISLAND HOSPITAL BOARDS.

DECLINE TO TAKE OVER PUKEORA AND OTAKI SANATORIA.

SATISFIED WITH DEPARTMENT’S

WORK.

A conference of delegates from Hospital Boards in the North Island, held in Palmerston on Tuesday, declined to form a group to take over the administration of the Pukeora and Otaki Sanatoria from the Department, in view of the fact that the institutions wore bqing economically run alifsady, conditions of administration were satisfactory, and there was nothing to show that the Boards could run the sanatoria better.

Mr J. K. Hornblow, chairman of the Palmerston North Board, was elected to the chair and extended a welcome to the Minister (Hon. A. J. Stall worthy), Dr Valintine and. delegates.

No Ulterior Motive. In returning thanks, the Minister had something to .say on the, object of the conference. He complimented the boards on the very excellent services they were rendering and close cooperation with the department.- It had bden stated that in taking over the sanatoria, the boards would become the catspaw of the department. Criticism like that was not creditable and showed a' lack of knowledge by the person who made it. “I want each of you to understand that there is no surreptitious movement on the part of the department to force the boards in one direction or another,” stated the Minister. “The Government is willing to hand over to any group of boards, the sanatoria now run by tho department and fulfil its responsibility right up to the hilt. The department docs not want to get rid of its responsibilities as some might think.” The Minister added that if he thought the taking ovw of the hospitals by the boards would be iniiiiical to the health of the patients he would oppose it but he didn’t think tho change would be. He believed that the group system of control would result in a closer interest by boards in regard to the incidence of T.B. in the North Island. He wanted to see the disease stamped out and an intensive educational campaign for tho purpose, was what was wanted.. That could only be brought about by the co-operation of boards with the department. Dr T. H. A. V'alintine (DirectorGeneral of Health) also sakl that there was. no ulterior motive behind, the conference, as far as the department was concerned. All the information possible would be gladly placed before th-e conference so that, delegates could discuss clearly and s freely whether the formation of a group system would be advantageous or not. The accommodation at Pukeora had not been used as it might have-been but at Otaki it was taxed to capacity although no patients had been denied admission. The department would hand over Otaki, and Pukeora lock, stock and barrel and in addition, the money that it was proposed to speii'd on the institutions. Having taken over the sanatoria, the boards would have the blessing and good -.wishes of the department. Department’s Gift. Mr Hornblow traversed the events that .had . led up to the decision to call a conference to discuss the formatiot of a group in the southern end of the North Island. It had started from the annual conference last. February, when the group system as carried out at Waipiata in the South Island, was approved. The chairman drew attention to the fact that there were more boards represented at the conference than it was proposed to include in the group. Tho boards suggested were: Matakoa, Waiapu, Cook, Wairoa,

Hawke’s Bay, Waip-awa, Daimevirke. Taranaki, Stratford, Hawera, Patea, •» Wanganui, ■ Palmers-ton North, Waira rapa and Wellington. However, t-hfr conference might think it advisable to extend the group to include the whole of the North Island. The speaker dealt with the general condition of the buildings, of the fixed plant, equipment, and remarked upon the fanning activities and maintenance expenditure; As regards the last named, further maintenance expenditure at Pukeora could only.be based on what had beer, done in the past and he did not anticipate any wholesale saving though some 1 eduction could be effected. There should be no need for further capita' expenditure for at least 10 years. In handing over the sanatoria the depart-

ment was making a present to the. hos-

pital boards of approximately £70,000 —Pukeora £50,000 and Otaki £20,000. At Waipiata in the South Island under the group system, the cost per patient per'day had been reduced to 7s 6d per head. Mr Hornblow expressed the opinion that if Pukeora and Otaki were taken over by the boards a similar saying to the country could be effected He. moved:— "That the North Island boards sot out. as. comprising the Wellington tuberculosis district, unite on similar lines as has been dona under the Waipiata group and take ’ over from the Government the control and administration of tjie Pukeora and Otaki sanatoria. ’’•

Information Wanted. Mr C.-M. Luke (Wellington) seconded pro forma stating that as far as his board was concerned, something more than generalities was wanted. They wanted something material (hear, hear). He appreciated the report of the chairman on the two institutions. Mr Luke asked if all the boards cited were willing to join up? So far that expression of opinion had not been obtained. He believed some system of group control was right but his board had not gone beyond approving the principle. Mr Luke urged the conference to hasten slowly and spend next year in getting a report on the institutions from a committee of experts. An assurance was wanted, for instance, that there would not be a rise in costs so soon as the boards took them over. Was Auckland also prepared to come into the movement or would another building be erected to meet the needs of the North?

In replying to a question, Dr Vaiintine said that if some of the boards refused to come into the group scheme, those boards would either have to provide for their own T.B. patients or pay for t'hcir treatment in the present institutions.

Mr Campbell''.Johnston (Hamilton) pointed out that both the sanatoria in the North Island would be in tho southern group. What would be the position if a northern group was formed? Would another building be provided ?

Dr Valintine stated that Pukeora was capable of dealing with the whole of the male T.B. patients in the Nortl Island.

Mr Johnston: Then why two groups? Why can’t the department carry on as they are?

In re-ply to andther question, the stated’that only the delegates from boards cited in the Wellington group could vote on It is motion.

Mr'Johnston and others: Then why did you. bring us Here from the North for 1 •

Mr J. 11. Me Carrol (Dargaville): The point is this, if the southern group is given the only two sanatoria, the northern group will bo loft without any.

The chairman said he had been assured that, t here was no T.B. 'in the North.

Mr E. T. Rc-cs (Napier) pointed out that it was impossible to discuss the subject unless the whole of the North Island groups agreed to take part, as since the abrogation of section 72, it was quite certain that people suffering from the disease would naturally gravitate to the district where the sanatoria were situated, with the result that the southern group of the North Island boards would find themselves providing treatment for the whole of the North Island, without recompense.

Other delegates urged the need of farther information regarding maintenance and capital costs.

Motion Withdrawn,

The chairman pointed out that at the annual conference the groups were decided- and the northern boards had made no objection to the division then, fie had moved his motion in an endeavour to carry out the instructions oi that conference'. If somebody could point the way to something better, well and good and in tho mean time he would withdraw the motion.

Mr W. E. Hale (Thames) then moved: “That in the opinion of the New Zealand boards, the time is not opportune to raise the question of the Government handing over the contro. of the sanatoria especially In view of the report that their administration is satisfactory and admission equitable tor all boards iri the North -Island.’ Mr Hale contended that the fact thu' statistics revealed there was a bigget decrease in T.B. in the North Island, than in the South, showed that tin present system of control was a good one (applause). Mr W. Kennedy (Stratford) second ad, stating that the present controsuited his board very well. They knew now what treatment was costing bui lid not know what it would be undothe proposed scheme. Mr P. S-myrk (Waipawa) urged i'ulb; consideration of the suggestion in view of the fact that it had been decide over and over again that the treat menof T.B. was a function of hospita boards. That the matter should not be le drop was the opinion of Mr C. 0. Morse (Napier) who stressed the point that under the control of a committee, patients would receive better treatment.

Mr W. Wallace (Auckland) pointed out that the success of the group system in the South had forced the North. Island., boards to consider the same method of control but it was significant that there had been a bigger decrease in the tlos-ease in the North which was a splendid tribute to the way the department was running t-he institutions (applause). The Auckland board was against joining the group. The motion was carried.