HOSPITAL BOARDS CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 June 1919, Page 3

HOSPITAL BOARDS CONFERENCE.

OLD PEOPLE'S HOME DISCUSSED. FURTHER ACCOMMODATION NECESSARY. A conference of representatives of the Taranaki, Stratford, and Hawera Hospital Boards was held in Stratford yesterday, at which several matters affecting the three districts, and particularly the necessity for providing further accommodation for old and indigent people, were discussed. Those present were; Taranaki Board, Mewrs M. Fraser (chairman), G. Capper, J. Andrews, C. Andrews, J. Young, S. Campbell, G. Young, and Holden (secretary); Stratford, Messrs C. D, Sole (actingchairman), C. R. Finnerty, R. H. Cameron, and Penn (secretary); Hawera, Messrs G. W. Taylor (chairman), F. Gillawders, A. L. Campbell, and C. M. Haggett (secretary). On the motion of Mr. Fraser, Mr. Sole was elected to the chair.

Mr. Prater said the proposal to»hold a conference originated with the Taranaki board, and he wished to thank the other boards for their ready response. A difficult question had come before his board with regard to accommodation for old people. Some time during the year 1808 it wag agreed that old people from the Stratford and Hawera districts should be received into the New Plymouth home. During the present year all the available space in the home had been filled, and, not only that, it had been found necessary to place tome of the men in the women's department. There were very few hands, the \trhole building being controlled by four people, as they had been trying to work the institute as economically as possible, and by placing men in the women's department a good deal of friction with the staff had been caused. Stratford and Hawera only knew the theoretical part of providing for old people, but his hoard had had the experience and knew the i difficulties). These old men were not all Inngels, and when they could get down [town they were not all prohibitionists. His board had come to the conclusion that it would be better to meet the other two boards, so that they might try and come to some amicable settlement on the question of providing for the old people in the three districts. At present there were nine from Hawera in the home (five men and fou» women) and f<fur from Stratford. Some time ago they had heard that Hawera was going to build a large hospital, and it was considered that they might be disposed to convert the old hospital into an | old people's home. If the Hawera hoard were able to look after their own people | it would relieve the situation very much.

On going through the records of the Old People's Home, he found a very curious condition of affairs, which required explanation. In Ifll.'i there .were 32 in the home. Daring the year the number diminished, and continued to diminish right on through 1914 and 1915, and then, Angularly enough, they began to increase till now the total capacity of the home was needed. At one time it was thought, that the large number of people in the home was due to old soldiers, and it was believed that when they passed out there would not be the same increase, but the population had increased and many old people had lost their sony in the war, and he could now see no hope for a decrease. The indications were that the demands upon the home would increase more and more. It was a question that they should meet each other upon as much as possible. Mr. Taylor (Hawera) said that his board had been unable to get two of their old people into the New Plymouth home. One of theße had been sent to the Salvation Army Home in Featherston. The conversion of the present hospital at Hawera into an old people's home had been spoken of, but even if decided upon it would he five or six years before it could be done. He was not aware that there wat any thought of doing this at present. His hoard would like to have something put forward by the Taranaki board, which could offer the necessary relief. He had hoped that Taranaki would see fit to extend the present building. As far as his hoard was concerned, they felt that they had been very well catered for by New Plymouth.

Mr. Gillandera (Hawera) said that, apart from one or two cates, Hawera had had no difficulty in getting admission for their old people to the home. So far, the difficulty was not very great. As far as lie could see, the number of people that would require attention would increase.

Mr. Tavler stated that when Hawera had difficulty in placing the two men already referred to they applied to Wangamri, and found that the position was the same there, the Home being overcrowded.

Mr. Fraser said that when' he. first went on the Taranaki Board he was under the impression that some agreement htid been come to in regard to patients from other districts, but in looking over the minutes he had found that, there was no liability on the part of Hawera or Stratford to help in providing accommodation. Tlirrv could look to these two boards for assistance in the event of a chronic or sick ward being required, but chronic cases were dealt with at the hospital, and in building a chronic ward they would be incurring liabilities the end of which t.hev could not see. As for a sick ward there was scarcely any need for one. Old men did not aet ill and thoee in the institution were very healthy and happy. Should any building pronosMs be put forward he did not think it necessary to build either a chronic or a sick ward. He wished to emphasise that the principal objection to additions was that the present building was not worth adding to. He had seen the architect for the Hawera board, who fully agreed with him on that point. Mr. C. Andrews (Taranaki) said they were not able to provide for their own people, and the building did not lend itself to enlargement. Tt would mean a heavy outlay to provide for both I Stratford and Hawera. They must be just to their own people before they were generous to outsiders. It was for Stratford and Hawera to do something for themselves. Some in his hoard's district were waiting for admission, and did not take very kindly to being shut out by outsiders.'. Tt was for the other two boards to make some arrangements as soon as ever they could. He could see nothing else for it.

Mr. Campbell said that the old people would have to be accommodated somewhere, and suggested that the three ■boards join and erect a temporary building of, tay, 20 rooms.

Mr C. D. Sole (Stratford) said it was probable that there "were in the New Plymouth home some whose relatives could well afford to pay. Coses had come under hia notice in which relatives had I shown a desire to get rid of the old 'fieogle, and the to throw

.them oil the State or charitable instituions. Referring to aged incurables; 'he said lie understood that these were provided for at New Plymouth. As for •Stratford providing for their own oldi people, what would be the use, he asked, l of spending £4OOO or £SBOB on a biding to accommodate four. The Hawera [■people knew their own. business beat He suggested that the Taranaki board ■ arrange to carry on for a year or two longer. He said fearlessly that a number of people, shirked their responsibility and were too eager to place it upon hospital boards. He had no doubt that the same thing happened with the Taranaki board as in Stratford, and that applications were made for old people who should never be admitted to the home. What the solution was: he could not say. He thought that in all eases inquiries Bhould be made into the circumstances of the relatives.

Mr. Campbell (Stratford) said it had' previously been recognised that it would be an advantage to Stratford to send' their old people to New Plymouth. They had worked very amicably with Taranaki ever since the existing arrangements were made. To keep the ofd: people here* Would be almost crnel on account of, ths climate. They had an ideal climate at. New Plymouth and an ideal site. Tfceyi should come to some arrangement to keep the old people in New Plymouth.' He was sure that Stratford would.

Mr. Fro-ser said the question of provid j ing ji- the old people was.' more present with them at New Plymouth than at Stratford or Hawera. They, were in a, different position to cities iike Wellington or Auckland, where they had been provided with enormous endowments and splendid institutions. Taranaki had a population of 35,000, and, with the exception of the New Plymouth board, they had never gone comprehensively into the question of providing for old p'eople. In case they did not come to any arrangements to make temporary provision, it occurred to him that the three boards should approach the Health Department and point out that, in a large district like Taranaki, no provision had been made for old people. At present they only had three veterans in the home, and he did not think there were any in the liome whose people could afford" to pay for present time to represent their case to the Health Department, and they could be guided by the Department in adopting some central scheme. With help,from the Government and contributions from local bodies, they could go in for a comprehensive scheme. He was throwing that out as a hint. The chairman suggested that Mr. Fraser should bring forward a motion so that the matter could go before the different boards. Mr. Fraser said he'merely wished to hear the opinions of members. Mr. Tayler pointed out that no provision had been made in South Taranaki [or old people, because at one time the whole district was under the Taranaki board.

Mr. Fraser said he was not apeakin« m the spirit of a fault-finder. Mr. Tayler: No. I am jus£ pointing out the position. Mr. Fraser was on the right track in saying that the Government, should be brought in, but the ideal spot for a home was at New Plymouth. Hie only way to force otheis boards wa l ' to give notice that New Plymouth was unable to accommodate any further applicants. If that were done the other hoards conld consider what would be the best course in the circumstances. Ho ivould not bind himself to anv resolution that day. He would go back to his hoard and explain matters. Tf New Plymouth eaid they could not take any more they would know what to do. Mr. G. Young (Taranaki) raid that, as a new member of the board, he had visited the home the day previous, and there was no question about the overcrowding. It was very undesirable that men should be in the women's ward Jhe present building would only last for a few years, and to add to it'would be bad administration. If Taranaki would notify the other boards.' that something would have to be done they could Appeal to the Government and the contributing bodies.

Mr. A. 1,. Campbell (Hawera) said they did not know Vliat, was before them and flould not come to any decision. He agreed that New Plymouth was the right place for a home, and the Taranaki board should circularise the other boards pointing out the difficulties they were now laboring under.

The chairman said the position had been put very clearly, and they now fluite understood where they were, but they could not come to any resolution that day They had better let the matter rest there. He suggested that New v V 1!? s ' f ' ff° '"to the question of distributing the liability. Mr. Fraser said that Hawera had been notified of the position in a very emphatic way, and had been told that there was no more room. To make a levy now for the purpose of adding to the present, building would be throwing money away. He hoped that the whole matter would be arranged by a conference after the different' boards had been consulted.