CONVALESCENTS' TREATMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 247, 18 April 1912, Page 8

CONVALESCENTS' TREATMENT

j "What is wrong with the Old People's j Home?" asked Cr. McAlhvm at the meet- | ing of the Hospital Board yesterday. He stated that he asked that question because he saw a letter in the Herald, signed by the Rev J. W. Burton, saying that It was inhuman to send convalescents there. He therefore asked the chairman for an explanation, not only in the interests of the public, but also of the board. The chairman stated that the board was not responsible for the treatment of convalescents. If they had no home to go to when they left the hospital it was the custom of the board to send them to the Old People's Home, where they would be well treated, as it was a healthy situation and was presided over by a fully qualified nurse, and was also attended by a medical man. When Mr. Burton rang the chairman up over the matter, he made inquiries and ,Bftw no reason to make any special arrangement in this case. It was the policy of the board to treat convalescents at the Home, and it met with his approbation. It was a good sound policy, and no one familiar with the institute could say that it was an undesirable resort. If they provided a convalescent home, naturally it would be in great demand, and the expenses of hospital management would increase. Personally, he would have no quaOins of conscience about sending any of his own people to the institution in question. Mr. J. Brown thought the chairman > had acted rightly. People who could I not afford to go to a private house after they left the hospital need not turn up their noses at the Old People's Home, where a capable matron was in charge. Mr. Maxwell, in moving that the board endorse the chairman's action, said that the Old People's Home was spotlessly clean, was in one of the most healthy situations in the district, and was also under a qualified person, and could thus offer no objection to convalescents. If the board did as suggested, they would have endless cases and a great increase of expenditure. Mr. McAllum was quite indignant over the letter. He considered it i reflection not only on the management, but on the matron, which was quite uncalled for. In fact, he could not use language strong enough to express his disgust. They were there to conserve the in--1 terests of the ratepayers.