A QUESTION OF RESPONSIBILITY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9034, 27 February 1908, Page 5

A QUESTION OF RESPONSIBILITY.

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID.

POSITION OF LOCAL INCURABLES. For some months past a controversy has been carried on by correspondence between the local Hospital Trustees and the Trustees of the North Wairarapa Benevolent Society regarding the question of responsibility for destitute persons suffering from incurable ailments. At yesterday's meeting of the Hospital Trustess a Dudget of correspondence was read by the secretary bearing on the matter, from which it was shown that the secretary of the Benevolent Trustees (Mr C. A. Tabuteau) acting under instructions, had written to the Insepctnr-General of Hospitals (Dr Valintine) setting out a typical example of the class of case which was the causo of so much divergence of opinion between the two local bodies. The letter to the Inspector-General stated that a man was found on the Waipoua River bed, some time ago, suffering from sunstroke, and was at the time the letter was written (January 20th) a patient at the Hospital. He was sent to the Benevolent Society by the matron of the Masterton Hospital to apply for' admissiun to Renall-Solway Home, and the Benevolent Trustees, believing that at any time the man might have another stroke, decided to admit him to the Home on condition that the Trustees would ra-admit him to the Hospital in the event of his case becoming, such as to require the attention of a nurse. As the Hospital authorities declined to give this undertaking the Benevolent Society asked for direction. The letter set out that under the deed of gift from Mr J. A. Renall of the land upon which the Renall-Solway Home stands, the home was expressly stated to be for "all needy and indigent persons of the Wairarapa district," and according to the rules of the Home applicants for admission have to be examined by a doctor afnd a certificate obtained that they are not suffering from any contagious or infectious disease, and are not in that state of health to require constant attention; also that they will keep themselves and their apparel clean, etc., which it was impossible for a person requiring the attention of a nurse to do. Other lengthy details were set out and cases cited which had occurred of late, together with the correspondence which passed between the two bodies of Trustees. The following is the reply of the Inspector-General: — "C. A. Tabuteau, Esq. ' r ' "Sir, —In reply to yours of the 20th inst., I have to inform you that the Inspector-General is of opinion that, as far as can be gathered your society is not bound to take incurables and the committee are quite within their rights in refusing such. The request of the committee i<i quite reasonable that the man should be re-admitted to the Hospital if he requires special medical or nursing attention, unless he can be admitted to the incurable ward in the Wellington Hospital, the Charitable Aid Board paying the cost of maintenance." E. KELLICK, For Inspector-General"