WHANGAREI HOSPITAL

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 587, 13 February 1929, Page 2

WHANGAREI HOSPITAL

DR. VALINTINE REPLIES TO REQUESTS PURCHASE OF X-RAY PLANT (From Our Own Correspondent) WHANGAREI, Tuesday. Replies were given yesterday by Dr. T. H. A. Valintine, Director-General of Health, to representatioiuj made by the Whangarei Hospital Board. Until other northern boards were prepared to co-operate, L)r. Valintine did not recommend the purchase of an elaborate X-ray plant for the Whangarei Hospital. The alternative was to send the more serious cases to Auckland. A smaller plant at Whangarei could accommodate lesser cases. The Wanganui hospital could not make a payable proposition out of its plant, although catering for a population of 50,000. Regarding the appointment of a house surgeon. Dr. Valintine said that owing to the lengthy course of training necessary there were few graduates offering from the Dunedin Medical School. However, inquiries were being made in Australia. The Director-General hoped that no system of honorary doctors would be introduced. This had proved successful in England, but not under the different conditions here. In connection with the old people T s home, Dr. Valintine begged the board not to undertake the securing of a home for the old people until the Kamo Springs property had been satisfactorily disposed of. It would be much better to await the co-operation of all northern boards in making Whangarei a centre where the old people could be better housed.