NEW PLYMOUTH HOSPITAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 141, 5 June 1908, Page 4

NEW PLYMOUTH HOSPITAL.

I'KAISJi flltUl Till-; UNSPKCTHiiHK.NEKAL. The recent criticism of the New Plymouth 110-piial hy ionic, members of the Hoard, and the discussions following thereon, have had the ell'ect of exercising the epistolary ell'orts of many of the patients and e\-j>utients of the institution, l'lie tenottr of the correspondence has Leen in the direction of exculpating the hospital and stall'. Th.; epidemic has spread to Wellington, and from there comes the late.-t eiuogisiu of this institution, which has such an excellent colonial reputation. The writer is none other than Dr. Valiulinc. Inspector-! o-ncral of Hospitals, whose letter was read at the Hospital Hoard meeting yesterday, as follows: "I am'glad to' see from Press rulliugs that you have settled matters satisfactorily with regard to the little troubles that, arose recently roiirerning hospital matters. 1 hope that ymii- Hoard will not go to the expense of it female dining-ioi.in. Diningrooms are not necessary, and can only lie considered luxuries; and I I Link ii patient- are well enough to lake their meals in separate room- they are. generally spcaking, well enough In go to their own homes. I have no hesitation in saying that dining-rooms and -ouvale-ernt rooms are inclined to lengthen the patients' -lav iu hospital, which should be r.-ervnl solely lor acute case-, j ~,„ u . n gia,| lo ~t that the iiiairon's .-alary ha- been in. rea-.-.1. There are leu matrons who have ... sitec—fnlh managed an in-lilulioii lor -n.-h a length ol ti -ill fact. New I'lviooiith is one of Hi- few ho-pital-in' Ihr Dominion where I rouble.- have not arisen within the lust few years, and all concerned with the institution deserve credit therefor." Messrs. A. K. bish. W. .lames, and 11. V. Tate forwarded a joint letter of thanks for the kind and skilful -iirgical treatment received from the mrdir.il stall, ilk.) the kind and unremitting attention of the nursing stall', who are a credit to the institution. Ih.-y took the liberty, they said, of suggesting that a temporary reading-room lie provided until the present building ua- .-.-iiewed. which would he re.|iiired al no di-lant dale. M —... .1. P.rown ami O'Sullivan .lis..iile.l the dictum of llr. ValiutiiK' concerning the dining room for female patient-. Mr. (I'Siillivnii considered that if women lil l<> have meal- in a separate room were lit to leave the institution llli-11. I'.llt they llle.l In need ,1 dining room.