CARE OF SICK SOLDIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 April 1918, Page 6

CARE OF SICK SOLDIERS.

HOSPITAL ACCOMMODATION. QUESTION BEFORE HOSPITAL BOARD. At yesterday's meeting- of the Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid board a lengtiiy cnvulur letter was read, from

Hie Minister of Public Health (tne Hon.

<j \V Knssell) wiih reierenee to tua change decided upon in connection witii tiie control of sick, wounded and discharged soldiers, who were now under tie care of the Defence Department, and the position and results arising therefrom. Amongst other things the Minister stated: ''The primary object of public hospitals is to provide for the civilian population. The funds are provided by (1) levies on the ratepayers, (2) Government subsidies thereon, and (3) voluntary contributions, (bequests, etc. On the other hand „11 funds required for the war or purposes arisin" out of the war, are provided <by loan and come from the war expense* account. The .Defence Department now having control of ail soldiers and discharged men, will, of course, pay from war loan tl<e entire cost of services rendered, none of which sliould come from cither rates , levied or subsidies from the Consolidated Fund. I recommend that .your Board carefully considers this aspect. You will render accounts for treatment of soldiers and discharged men sent to you, direct to the r-fenee Department, and send to this department a quarterly statement of the services rendered to the Defence, and the moneys received and due fgmi that department. Regarding buildings, the policy laid down by me, when I, as Minister of Public Health, assumed control of the rcl rned men, was that every man should he located in the hospital nearest his own home—other conditions being suitable—in order that he might l.c near his friends. This policy mu worked out very satisfactorily. Assuming that it is continued,, as the number oE returned men increases, and above all, when the inevitable "rush" at the end of the war takes place, considerable congestion in hospitals is certain to occur. It will be the duty of the Defence Department to make the necessary provis on for thiV. I strongly recommend that your board affords every assistance to the Defence Department for soldiers and discharged men up to the present accommodation, after providing for the civilian population, and if further accommodation is required at your hospital purely for soldiers and' discharged men, the Minister of Defence will provide it by arrangement with your board. If your board agrees to pay part of the cost it will be required to do so from rates or voluntary contributions, neither of which will be entitled to subsidy from the Hospitals Department, the intention being that the financial responsibility is primarily upon the Defence Department, with whom you will please make your arrangements.' 'Further, the. approval of the Minister of Hospitals, in accordance with the existing law, will be required of Hie plans of any buildings costing more than £2.10, proposed to be erected. This is absolutely necessary, in order tliat the experts of this department-may safeguard the present and future interests of all hospitals as regards fire prevention and the general lay-out of tiie institutions, and more particularly as regards the capacity of the administrative'block and nurses' homes for the increased workthat will be caused by an increase "of patients. Any proposals for repayment by hospital boards to the' Defence Department for buildings erected for soldiers must lie subinjtted to this department for approval. Any comments your board may desire to make on this circular, either by resolution or otherwise, will receive most careful consideration. In conclusion, I beg to thank your board most sincerely for its patriotic assistance during the twio-and-a-half years that medical treatment of soldiers and discharged me n has been under my control." J

A reply to that letter had been sent by ihe secretary to the effect that the board was giving every assistance possible to the Defence Department. "In the past the board had claimed on the Defence Department for treatment of soldiers at the same rate that we do for other patients, viz., 5s per day. The cost of maintenance per occupied bed for all cases lias now reached (owing to the increase in the price of supplies and other causes) approximately 7s (kl per day. We conclude from your letter that we may charge the Defence Department the actual cost of maintenance, X-ray treatment, and other extra charge's which may .be incurred, such charges to dale from April 1. On January 22 last my hoard wrote to the InspectorGeneral making an offer for the accommodation of soldiers, and in case this has not come under your personal notice I am enclosing a copy of It." The special offer made in the letter of January 23 was that the board would grant the use of the unusued portion of the old hospital, which is estimated to accommodate a large number of beds, as a temporary military hospital, the department to renovate* furnish, equip anil staff Hie same.

In reply to the secretary's letter t!ie Minister wrote noting the board's cost of maintenance as" 7s Cd per day per occupied bed. and stating lie concluded the board could charge the Defence Department the actual cost of maintenance, and any other charges incurred. Without-. e\r.ros=iii<v ~„ option the Minuter intimated that he did not tliiukOiq Minister of Defence would pav a higher rate than what ia ordinarily charged Vy ike hoard to all patients. ' The chairman, in explaining the correspondence, said the only matter for the board's consideration in the meantime was whether the Board should contribute any sum to the. Defence Department in the event of the department deciding to erect biddings for the aecommodatian and treatment of soldiers. H oust he quite elear, however, that if em- such contribution was made it would have to be out of the contributory funds'" r.ntl not out of Government money. The chairman said he made the explanation so that member? might have the matter under consideration as they might he called upon at short notice t.o come to a decision in the case of the Minister coining to New Plymouth and proposing to erect hospital buildings.