THE CONSUMPTIVE ANNEXE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7929, 19 September 1905, Page 2

THE CONSUMPTIVE ANNEXE.

SHOULD OUTSIDE PATIENTS DK ADMITTED ? At Monday's meeting of the Tarnnaki Hospital Hoard, a conmiunication was read from (he Stratford Hoard protesting against the rclusal of this local board to admit patients from their 'district to the consumptive annexe, cn the following grounds :-(l) The annexe was erected by subscriptions collected from all parts of the district, and not only from the portion now included in the Taranaki Hospital district. (2) Contributions were paid by those restating in this district on assurance given that the annexe would be open to all consumptives in the 'Taranaki province. (3) The Stratford district being unsuitable for the establishment of a consumptive annexe a cruel hardship would bo inflicted upon, sufferers residing there were they to be denied access to the only annexe available in the province. ,(4) Common humanity and good feeling | point to the combining of neighbours so situated in order that un- ' necessary suffering and loss of life livuy be avoided. In conclusion the Stratford Board asked the local Hoard to re-consider a decision t'hat appeacs to have been airiVed at under a misunderstanding and overlooking the above considerations. Thi» Chairman (Mr Tisch) said the statement that ail assurance was given that the annexe would toe open 1 to all the consumptives In the Taranaki province was contrary to fact. Ihe assurance given by the promoters to those who contributed large sums, and to subscribers Jg-enerally, was that the annexe would only Ire available for patients within the Taranaki Hospital district, and was not to be a dumping ground for tubercular cases. As a mattor of fact, however, tho Hoard had not acted in a narrow, spirit, for the first patient admitted to the aun.iKe was from tho Stratford.Hospital District, and at the date the above resolutions were passed there were two patients from the Stratford district at tho annexe. The resolutions, therefore,' were quite uncalled for. Mr Tisch said he thought the Board would be willing to receive patients from the Stratford district when there were beds available «(. (he an- . next'. Application should first be made to the secretary to see whether there was a lied available. This arrangement should be determinable at the pleasure of the Hoard. Members endorsed the Chairman's view, but 'held that, preference must always he given to patients within the district.

Mr (jock savd the Hoard \vnvl undertaken t-o give tlie Stratford people hospital accoinnHidnlion until such time as they could build a hospital of their own. and in his opinion accommodation nt the annexe was ini lnded in this agreement. At the same time it was clearly laid down that the annexe was only for tho Taranaki Hospital District.. There had been delay in getting a hospital erected at Stratford, 'hut iie took-it that when the 'hospital was established the Strattord Hoard would also liavi; to erect an annexe (or themselves for the treatment of consumptives within their own district. Sir , .Joseph Ward and ])rs. Mason am! ..Valintine, the Chief Health (Hlicors of the colony, had, at the opening of the New Plymouth annexe, laid it. down as the policy of the Health Department that evenhospital district, should have an annexe. to treat the consumptives in its own •district, and congratulated New Plymouth on being the first to establish such accommodation. Jn further discussion it was point-, ed out that wlvcn raising funds the promoters confined their active canvass to the Taranaki Hospital District. Considerably less than £lO had been j subscribed -by Stratford people. Tho Chairman was empowered to reply to the protest in the terms set out above, tho Hoard being willing to receive patients, but not to admit them to Hie exclusion of other patients, this concession to lie determinable at thy pleasure of the Taranaki Duard.