HOSPITAL CASUALTY WARD

Taupo Times, Volume 11, Issue 74, 17 June 1953, Page 5

HOSPITAL CASUALTY WARD

BOARD NOT IN FAVOUR The Waikato Hospital Board, at its monthly meeting on Monday, June 8, decided to make two more maternity beds available at the Taupo Hospital, instead of establishing casualty beds. The Board was dealing with an inquiry ftrom the Taupo Ratepayers" Association about an emergency ward. Mr R. S. A. Graham, the Superinten-dent-in-Ghief, said it was desirable to transfer casualties to base hospitals with acfequate services, rather than to establish casualty beds in small centres. Possible Hospital Changes. A Consultative Committee on Hospital Reform is to sit at Auckland in July. The Chairman of the Waikato Board, Mr H. D. Caro, said Rotorua possibly might be taken and added to a new Bay of Plenty Board incorporating- the present Tauranga, Whaka- , tane and Opotiki Boards. Mr A. E. Bryant said the Waikato Board could well do without Rotorua and Taupo, and was faced with big responsibilities in th.e rapidly growing Tokoroa district. Mr E. G. Guv, Rotorua member, said the question of base hospitals was all important. He could not see the wisdom of having valuable equipment duplicated through numerous small hospitals. The prineiple of base hospitals had be.en illustrated in the Waikato district. It had provided an excellent service. Among matters which the Consultatives Committee is to report on are the questions as to what c.entres should continue to maintain base hospitals or to have new base hospitals established; if it is not considered that each hospital district should be centred on a base hospital, what other changes, if any, should he made ; whether any change should be made in tbe present basis of representation and method of j election; the system of hospital fin- ! ance and the steps which should be ; taken to provide for more effective and efflcient controi of expenditi : e.