MINISTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 June 1918, Page 3

MINISTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

VISIT TO NEW PLYMOUTH. OOOTERISJJCE WITH HOSPITAL BOARD. The Minister of Pu!blic Health (tlio Hon. G. W. Russell) met the members of the Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board in conference yesterday morning. Tht chairman (Mr. M. Fraser), in introducing the Minister, expressed the board's apprecia-tion of his readiness to come and meet them, and give them the benefit of his advice at a time when the hoard were in need of guidance. THE NURSES' HOME.

Mr. Fraaer then proceeded to relate the circumstances under which the present board took office last October, there oeing now only one member who was also a memiber of the previous board. At that time the resignations of the whole medical and nursing staff were on the table, and the new board felt some alarm at the state of affairs. The principal difficulty was the question of the accommodation for the nurses, which was the same now as it was 10 years ago. At that time the number of patients average was about 100 per month, average was aboiia 100 per month. There were now 43 nurses on the staff, and these were accommodated in five different places. In many of their rooms there were three beds, and the conditions generally were sunless and wretched. These nurses were working bravely, and without grumbling, because they believed a home was to be provided for them;, but, should they get to know that a home was not possible, they would be very disappointed. The board was aware, however, that they must get the consent of the Minister before proceeding with tlie erection of such a buliding. Plan a had been prepared providing for the accommodation of 70 beds, and the estimated cost of the home, including furnishings, was £15,000. What the board wanted was the opinion of the Minister as to the home for the nurses and as to financing the proposal. The Minister briefly acknowledged the chairman's welcome, and said that since ho took the portfolio of Public Health he had been most anxious to get into close touch with the hospital boards. The Government had no desire to interfere with the board's administration, but to assist, wherever possible, whei> financial help was required. He expressed some surprise that there had been a clean s weep of the old board, but judged the ratepayers knew what they were about when they did that. It wag the fixed policy of the Department lo see that proper accommodation w r as made for the nursing staffs of the public hospitals, especially in view of the arduous nature of the work, and the fact that there were so many inducements for them to take up other lucrative occupations and professions. Ho referred to the years of hard training necessary before a nurse gained her certificate, anil said that bp, as Minister, would heartily support any steps the board might take to properly provide for the accommodation of its nurses- He expressed an opinion that, with its ironsand and oi! industries, as well as its dairving industry, New Plymouth was destined to become an .mlu.-.tri.al centre of great importance. and provision must, therefore, be made for a great future. In erecting a building, care should be taken to provide that it could be easily extended for future requirements. In the main the Department preferred that each nurse slmuM have a separate room to herself, though there were eases where some preferred to have a companion, and an endeavor was always made to met such a wish.

Referring to the financial aspect of the proposal, the Minister Faid it war, his policy to ease the load on the ratepayers a:, much as possible while they vere providing heavy war taxation. He suggested that the board should get into touch with the Public Trust Office and try to borrow the slim required, for which thev would give securitv over the property of the board up to the amount borrowed. The Public Trustee had lent sums to the Auckland and Palmers ton North Hospital Ikiards with his full eonsent. He suggested that when the Ivoard had settled its proposals, the chairman should fro to Wellington and see the Public Trustee as to what amount of money could be procured. Regarding repayment of the loan, he suggested that the Public Trust Office would require 5% per cent, interest, which, if they borrowed up to £20,000, would be a little over £IOOO per annum. That should be paid out of the maintenance account, and what was levied on the ratepayers for maintenance would receive the Government sutwidy He also suggested that if the sum was borrowed for 30 years, the payment of £SOO per annum would liquidate the whole debt. The board should levy on the ratepayers for capital expenditure up to £250, and the Government subsidy would provide the other £250. There was ample value in the property of the Taranaki Hospital District, which stood a.t £7,437,000, to warrant such an undertaking. (Applause.) BOARDS OFFICES AND DENTAL CLINIC. The chairman then introduced the question of providing adequate accoin l modation for the clerical staff of the foo&rd a matter which had been exercising tiio mind of the board for some time. Ho said pdans had been drawn and a proposal made to erect complete office and board.room accommodation on the hospital property, and, having in mind the Department's idea to provide dental clinics for the treatment of children, a further proposal had been made to erect a two-storied building, and to devote the upper storey to the purposes of a free dental clinic. The Minister's advice in that matter was also sought bv the board.

To this the Hon. Mr- Russell responded with enthusiasm. He said he heartily approved the idea of consolidating the work of the board on one site, provided it was sufficiently central. He then referred to what was being done in the matter of dental work. lie said the chief requirement was a centrally-situ-ated place, so tliait people coming in from country districts would have ready access. If the board contemplated establishing such a place, the movement would have liis heartiest approval It was. a fact thait half (he men examined for militarv per vice had been declared unfit, and the Minister gave it as his opinion tliat the stale o ? the'r health was the result o! unhealthy dentals in

early life. a voU: oi £3OOO had ix'en granted by the Government to deal with venereal diseases and dental conditions, and if the hospital hoards took up the Work and dealt with it lie was prepared to say that he would give them £3 out of every £4 spent. He thought, however, that the children of the well-to-do people should not be aMc to qualify for free dental treatment, and considered that people earning over .£■! per week ■vhould be aible to pay for the treatment i that such clinics provide, lie did not suggest tluit free clinics should undertake what might be called high-class dentistry, but considered extractions, stoppings, and fillings should be the aim of the clinics. He was of opinion that if that was done the cost would not exceed more than an average of 4s per child. Every child who produced a certificate from a head schoolmaster, a medical inspector, or a qualified medical practitioner, should be entitled to free treatment. He made no distinction between (he children of State or private schools. In reference to providing dentists for such work, he hoped that arrangements might be made with local dentists to carry on the work. If not, then the Government would arrange with the Otago Dental School to have men trained. They would give bursaries to students who, on completing their course, would be required to go into the Public .Service for two or three years at a remuneration to be arranged by the State. That was being done with regard to medical students, who would become officers of the Public Health Department for a period of two or three years. He hoped by that means to be able to prov de means to be able to provide New Plymouth with an assistant house surgeon. The dental scheme should not he con'ined to New Plymouth, but the dentist in charge should visit the surroiinding io\yns and stay for several days, if necessary, and so help to provide good health for the whole community. He wanted the scheme to be a national one and free to all children. (Applause.) HEALTH INSPECTION. The chairman next referred to the question of health inspection, over which, lie said, there had evidently been some misunderstanding and overlapping. At present' one inspector had to do all the hospital district, and it was not possible for him to be in all places at once. He was frequently needed in town ami country at the same time. Unfortunately, Taranaki was not an exception to other parts of the Dominion in the matter of experiencing the present epidemic of diphtheria. The board was fullv awake to it, but the people were® blaming the board for not doing its work. The board was the responsible authority, but the borough inspector and health inspector had found themselves overlapping at times. The board was of opinion that there should be one man whose work should be final. The Mayor and council were concerned in the matter, and were prepared to give what help was possible.

Tlie Minister, in his reply, said the matter was receiving the attention of Mie Public Health Department. The great difficulty at present was the want of bacteriologists. If they were on the -pat. it would he a comparatively easv matter to detect people who, though not sn!lering from such a trouble, were carriers of the infection. A proposal had been made to the Duncdin Medical School to get men or women with seme scientific training to take up bacteriological work, and if that was done one nf these experts could be sent to a district in which an epidemic occurred, and the outbreak could be properly dealt with. lie' did not think it was practicable to appoint one health officer for the town of New Plymouth only. That would mean that another man would have to be free to go to any part of the district, as required. He undertook to have an investigation made into the question. He would prohaMv get. Dr. Watt to come to New Plymouth in connection with the matter, and upon li s report lie believed a scheme could b; arranged by which, the matter of inspection would be satisfactory to all parties.

GENERAL. •Some other matters, relating to the acquisition nf more land for the board's farm, and also dealing with the administration of the hoard's finances, were also brought under the notice of the Minister, v. iio asked some pointed questions relevant to the hoard's expenditure. These, however, were satisfactorily cleared up, and ilr. Russell congratulated the chairman on the businesslike way in which the new board was facing its work, and said it gave him great confidence in the future so far as the administration of the New Plymouth Hospital was concerned.

Referring to the question of fees and the collection of arrears, Mr. Russell said that the ideal was to have hospitals so administered that no person who u r as sick or in need should want for medical attention. Ho hoped in the future to have a State medical service, which would in time link up with the work of the hospital boards- While the hospitals were for every ratepayer, the first right to their services belonged to the people who could not alford to ,pav for medical treatment. If the rich man could be accommodated, woll and good, but he should not occupy a bwf in a public hospital to the exclusion of a poor man. Fees should be collected in every case, but the board should so arrange that it could vary its charges in order to meet special That was done in connection with the maintenance of mental hospitals,- the policy being that the people sho'ild pay something for the care of their destitute relatives. In respect to outstanding fees, the Minister repressed himself strongly i n favor oi a systematic effort being made to collect them. THE BOARD'S THANKS.

The chairman then moved a hearty vote of thanks to the Hon. G. W. Russeil for the cordial manner in which he had met the board, the motion ibeing carried with acclamation. The Minister, in reply, thanked the board for receiving Tiini as they liad done. He said he regarded the health of the people as of the first importance, and, aiter that, their education. If the community was a healthy and educated community, all other matters would follow i n their natural order. VISIT TO INSTITUTIONS. The Minister was then taken for an inspection of the hospital and also tha Rnngiates, Home At each place he was received by the matron and shown over the premises. Mr. Russell showed a keen interest in the soldier patients at the hospital, and spoke to each of them personally. Ho expressed his satisfactnn with everything he saw at both ! n»i itntinn=. nnd pointed out some improvements that eoukj be effected in the laundry at the hospital.