HOSPITAL OUT EAST.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 70, 14 July 1914, Page 6

HOSPITAL OUT EAST.

DEPUTATION TO THE BOARD. INQUIRIES TO BE MADE. Messrs McCutchan and Court waited on the Hospital Hoard this morning in reference to .the establishment of a cottage hospital at Wliangamomona. Mr Meredith, in introducing the deputation, said the township now had the services of a doctor, and the residents thought that the time was approaching when there should be a cottage hospital in the township plat least a room for the purpose. Mr McCutchan said he and Mr Court had been deputed hy the Medical Association and the Doctor Association to approach the Board. There was now a fairly large number of people in the district. They 7 would like an indication as to the steps which they should take. They knew that the solo difficulty was in respect of finance. The Boarffi had been approached because the Whangamomoiia residents were not very conversant with hospital matters. Mr Court said the Board had previously communicated with the residents regarding a district nurse, asking for a subsidy of £4O, but that scheme was left in abeyance when arrangements were being made for a doctor. The district was full of accidents and dangers, and being able to have instantaneous attention might mean the life of a person. People had to travel a long way to the railway, and even the railway journey of two or three hours might mean the difference between life and death. They thought that there should be a ward for maternity cases. The doctor said the hospital would be a great help to him; and, of colirse, it would relieve the strain on the district hospital. The Chairman: Have you given up the idea of a district nurse? Mr Court said it had been dropped at present in favour of a cottage hospital ? Mr Sole: Have you decided on a site ? Mr McCutchan said they had picked a site hut had found that the Government would not part with it. But there were other suitable sites though they would hayo to be paid for. Mr Sole: Hoiy much would the Medical Association give towards the hospital ? Mr Court said tire matter had not yet been gone into, but the Association would have funds to contribute. Mr Sole said the annual upkeep would be about £3OO, and Mr McCutchan gave it ag his opinion that the cost of the buildings would be £IOOO. Mr Court said the deputation merely wanted a lead. He did not think the upkeep would be a severe strain. There would be a good revenue from lying-in cases. The suggestion was that the doctor be only paid when called in, the charge to be solely between the doctor and the patient. Another source of revenue would be from the co-operative workers. Some time ago about 390 signatures had been procured from co-op-erative workers promising to contribute sixpence per week towards the hospital fund. This sura would be deducted from their wages, and they wished that the contribution be made a condition of their employment on the work. The men stipulated that they should have free hospital treatment. He thought members., from experience, would see that this would be a satisfactory manner of getting money from the 00-operative workers. The Minister for Public Works and all officials approached were in favour of the scheme. The chairman: You must remember that the public works will only last for a time. Mr Court said they would be on the present section for about three years. Mr Sole: Perhaps twenty. Mr'Court said settlement was*proceeding rapidly, and the hospital would serve a district with a radius of twenty-five miles,, containing a population of about 1600. The chairman said the Board recognised its responsibilities, but everything had tq be (lone in a businesslike manner. The sympathy of the Board with residents of the district went without saying. , Mr McCutchan said, in respect of the cost of buildings, that possibly a good sum could be raised by the residents by way of voluntary contribution, which would carry subsidy from the Government. Mr Sole moved that the matter be left to the secretary, chairman and the mover to inquire as to cost of buildings and maintenance, and to report to next meeting. Mr Christpffel seconded. Mr Meredith said it was hoped that the fees would’cover the cost of maintenance. Mr Sole: I think a district nurse would be the best thing for the district. . Mr Walter said there was a danger that if the present doctor should leave Whangamomoiia the Board would he compelled to send out another doctor. He thought that a small room for rendering first aid would suffice at first, enabling accident cases to be put on the train in proper manner. The chairman, said the committee would report on such a room if deemed necessary. The motion was carried.