OVERCROWDED HOSPITAL

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 109, 29 July 1927, Page 16

OVERCROWDED HOSPITAL

CHRISTCHURCH PROBLEM POSITION NOW ACUTE (Special to THE SUN.) CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday. Always at a big public hospital there is a waiting list, but the position as far as the Christchurch Hospital is concerned is acute at present. What should be done about it? Though there is no proposal at present to extend or enlarge the present hospital, it seems clear that when such a proposal is brought forward in the future, a strong body of opinion will favour the building of an institution apart from the present one. It is hoped that the opening of ISt. George s Hospital, and the completion cf additions to Lewisham Hospital, will decrease the waiting list at the Christchurch Hospital. There is a factor caused by the present period of depression in the country, that some people who would pay for treatment in private institutions in economically normal times now seek treatment at the public hospital. The position which is complained of by many people, and especially by the farming community, is that the* people who help largely in finding the hospital rate cannot secure the benefits of the hospital. Mr. H. H. Holland, chairman of the Christchurch Hospital Committee, first drew attention to the position yesterday, when he remarked that there are 407 bed cases in the Christchurch Hospital at present, one of the wards having as many as five stretchers in it in addition to the beds. The position was just about as bad as before the new ward for women was opened last February. It was possible, however, that some of the patients admitted to the hospital would have gone into private hospitals in ordinary times, but now could not pay the charges of private institutions.