TIMARU HOSPITAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1993, 11 January 1890, Page 2

TIMARU HOSPITAL.

ro THE EDITOR. Sie, In common with many of Tour readers I read with considerable from 11 the n T be tr t eata ;® nt tv ™ Persona trom the Temuka district seeking admission into the Timaru HosnifJ withm the past few days were subjected to. The cases clearly show that he rules governing the hospital' want amending and the accommodation bnt re S- g ‘ a The - 6 can be no doubt Zut f admisslon *> the hospital snould be far more easily attained than be Tb* * hat pl ‘ ovision should oe made for the treatment of all classes ° dißeases ' “J oSnion of thi e if ed > ! l° th . at . S uards the P doors prereab instances Sin i ad T sl0 ,“ of persons certainly better judges' can not pay for his m. I pers ? n can or £=•;; .vs =.7fs_;H=^

amount of money for hospital maintenance. Members appeared fully aware of the cases which have been the subject of such comment within the last few days— at one meeting at least, according to your report, members were agreed that the hospital rules and accommodation are not what they ought to be—and yet neither thought fit to make a representation to the Charitable (?) Aid Board on the subject! Members of other local bodies, the Q-eraldiue and Mount Peel Hoad Boards, I think, have bad something to say to the Hospital Board before now—before the flagrant cases which are now agitating the public mind occurred—about their mismanagement and overcharging, and surely it was within the scope of the duties of the Arowbenua and Temuka Town Boards, as representatives of the districts in which they meet, to have made similar representations. It is to be hoped at next meeting of the bodies mentioned the members will have all the information they need before them, and that their condemnation of the rules will be all the more vigorous for the delay. Another matter they might with propriety consider is the extortionate charge of 5s per day made to patients. Yery few can afford to pay such a sum, and the boards ought to do their best to get the charge reduced to, say, £1 per week, 1 doxngaway with it altogether in the case of patients in poor circumstances. It is to be hoped that the distressing cases ■will result in provision being made for similar eases in future, in the method of obtaining admission t© the hospital being simplified, and in the present heavy charge being largely reduced. If they do so their exposure will have had a very good effect. In conclusion I may express the opinion that it would be well if the bodies who elect the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board took care not to elect as members men who may be in any way interested.—-Yeurs, etc., Eatepatee. January 9th, 1890.