“PATIENT UNTO DEATH”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 351, 11 May 1928, Page 8

“PATIENT UNTO DEATH”

DR. G. J. BLACKMORE, Director of Tuberculosis Institutions in North Canterbury, replies to the plea of Dr. Valintine for a little more patience” on the part of those who are urging increased accommodation for the treatment of tuberculosis, by stating that some tubercular sufferers, unable to obtain proper treatment, have been “patient unto death.” He reminds the powers that are so parsimonious in the matter of dealing with the White Scourge that last year 11 patients died while awaiting admission to the sanatorium, and that in the past two years 17 have died waiting. And now all the beds are occupied, and there are 37 women seeking admission ! The scandal of such a situation cries aloud for remedy. Dr. Blaekmore denies the contention of Dr. Valintine that there is more tuberculosis in the South Island than in the North. He raps the health officials on the knuckles by stating that there is no organisation in the North to discover infectious cases—not even a dispensary for outdoor “T. 8.” patients. Is it any wonder infection continues to spread? If there were such a dispensary, says Dr. Blaekmore, the Director-General of the Health Department would receive a shock. It really seems time the shock was administered. Dr. Blaekmore does not mince matters when dealing with the apathy of Health Department officials. His is a blistering indictment: “Dr. Valintine should be in possession of all the information about tuberculosis that any commission could give him. He had been chief health officer for 20 years, and now he asked for a commission to inquire how to deal with tuberculosis. Yet there were 700 or 800 people dying every year of tuberculosis, and the director-general had no policy dealing with it.” Dr. Blaekmore has resigned his position as Director of Tuberculosis Institutions, and expects to retire at the end of the year. But for his courage and energy, the plight of consumptives generally might have been very much worse, and he is a man who can ill he spared. Meanwhile, a commission is to inquire and report on consumptive sanatoria. The need for increased accommodation is well enough known without creating another costly commission to stress the obvious.