OPUNAKE HOSPITAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 October 1922, Page 6

OPUNAKE HOSPITAL.

MEDICAL ATTENDANCE, PROBLEM. departmental aid sought. The recently-established cottage hospital at Opunake is still .presenting difficulties in the way of management to the Taranaki Hospital Board, and a long discussion at yesterday’s meeting ended with a decision to place the Whole of the facts in connection with medical attendance before the -health depaltment. with a request that they should advise the board in the matter.

The report of the general manager (Mr. E. Holden) stated, inter alia, thht the sub-committee appointed to draw up rules and regulations in connection with the management of the Opunake hospital had met, when it was decided, that the local committee should have the same power in relation to that hospital as the members of the board had to the New Plymouth hospital, with the proviso that the board had the right to veto any rule or provision made. The fees were fixed as follows: —Ordinary patients shall pay the same as at the New Plymouth hospital; maternity ratients to pay, in addition to the ordinary fees, the medical fees charged by the' doctor. The general manager was authorised to pay periodical visits to Opunake to keep a general supervision over the management of the institution, and to advise the committee and sister in eharw. Messrs. Halcombe and Vickers with the general manager, were deputed to go to Opunake with a view to meeting the local committee, with Dr. Watt, to come to some finality wit.regard to the standing and position o: the proposed medical superintendent. After discussion, it was decided that ' the question should be submitted to ths. ' committee, which had since decided that the hospital be used for the purposes for which it was built, namely, maternity and general nursing. The question'had yet to be decided whether Dr Watt would attend or not, and, 11 not, what action was to sc take " to provide medical attendance for those cases needing the services of a medical

The secretary of the Opunake Hospital Committee' (Mr. T. H. H. Sinclair) notified that his committee had accepted the control and management ot the Rachel Taylor bequest as from October, 1 4 number of accounts were forwarded which the committee were not able to pay from fees collected. It was hoped, however, that, -when the genera working of the hospital was put on a sound basis, the committee would be able to show a much more satisfactory financial position. “VERY UNSATISFACTORY. ’ Tn a further letter the secretary notified the board of a resolution passed unanimously by the committee (as mentioned in the general managers report.) It was stated that, in view ot the fact that the time of a probationer employed at the Opunake institution ■would' not be counted in her length ot service, it. was suggested by the committee that it might be , possible to secure the services of applicants awaiting vacancies at the New Plymouth hospital as probationers. The general manager and Air. tlaicombe reported on the conference at Opunake, as outlined in the formers report Mr. Halcom'be said the position was very unsatisfactory, as the doctor absolutely refused to attend maternity cases at the hospital. Mr. Cattley said he understood the friendly societies were agreeable to cooperate with the board to secure a doctor for the hospital, .provided the sanction of the department was obtained. How best to secure the services of a medical man at Opunake to attend to Hospital matters formed the trend ot a loni discussion. The general manager quoted regulation from the Public Health . nendment Act, and added that, in the light of that regulation, it appeared a very simple matter for the Egmont County Council to approach the Minister with a view to appointing a medical man for Opunake, wiht the assistance to be expected from the friendly societies. , ’ “It is suggested that the Egmont County Council should supersede the board'in this matter,’- said Mr. M. O’Brien, who is chairman of the council. He spoke without feeling, but lie would say the county council would take the matter over, though he thought it was' impudence on the part of the board to expect the council to do so. It the latter did so it would mean separ“I would remind Mr. O’Brien that the I Egmont County Council is the health authority for the district,” said Mr. Vickers. . , “Nominally,” was Mr. O’Briens reply. (He went on to point out that a levy could not be made over the whole ot the Egmont County to meet, the expenses of appointing a medical, man. A lew could be made on the Opna, Opunake and Oeo ridings, but if such a thin“ were done in the Rahotii riding, which comprised half the county, the council -would have another storm about, their heads from those people who were trying to unmake the county, it I -was, he" considered, a matter in, which I the hospital board should give the lead. A doctor should be advertised for. An appeal could later be made to the friendly societies to supplement the amount, and, if that were not enough, the Egmont County Council could be asked to create a separate district for a rate, “but candidly,” concluded the speaker, “it is not a job for the county council.”

QUESTION FOR DEPARTMENT. The Acting-chairman- (Mr. A. H. Halnot want, to transfer its responsibility combe) explained that the board did to the county council, but, as the council had the power to apply for a doctor without the sanction of the board, it. seemed better that the appointment should be made in that way. 1 Mr. O’Brien, stating that he would ! call a spade a spade, maintained that the Opunake hospital was built largely by compulsion on the part of the board. The board was the authority, and must give a lead in the matter. He could not agree that the county council should be called upon to take up ! the burden, which -was emphatically the duty of the board. Air. Vickers resented the remark about compulsion, nor. had the board wanted to shuffle the financial responsibility of, securing a medical man on to the council. What was wanted was

to the department for the appointment of a medical man at Opunake, as that would be the best and shortest way out of the difficulty. The acting-chairman said the financial responsibility devolved upon the department, who would fix the salary, and the supplementary amounts to be paid by the 'board, friendly societies and county council. On the motion of Mr. Vickers, seconded by Air. Young, it was decided that the whole facts of the case in connection -with medical attendance at the Opunake hospital be placed before the department, and that they ’be asked to suggest what the 'board should do in the matter. It was further resolved, on the motion of Mr. Halcombc, seconded by Mr. Vickers, that the general manager consult with the medical superintendent of the New Plymouth hospital (Dr. Walker) as to the'salary to be offered for the position if the department advised that applications should be invited.