PRIVATE WARDS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18362, 21 April 1925, Page 5

PRIVATE WARDS.

HOSPITAL SUPERINTENDENT'S

request

An indication that- the question of private wards is to receive attention in the near future was given by the chairman (Mr H. J. Otleji) at yesterday's meetiiig of the North Canterbury Hospital Board, commenting, during the courso of an address in which he reviewed tho year's work, on a Reference ntadc by tho Medical Superintendent (Dr. W. Fox) to the subject. In his report, Dr. Fox stated: —"The increasing demands on the Hospital accommodation are becoming moro and indrc acute every year, and is taxing tho resources of management to a considerable degree, necessitating tiro expedients being resorted to, namely, having a large waiting list, and asking patients to leave Hospital perhaps a trills early in their convalescence. No building for General Hospital purposes has been undertaken for nearly fifteen years, and the growth of the city and district warrants an early extension of buildings. The improvement in Hospital management has had the' effect of popularising the Hospital, every means of humane consideration for tho welfare of the public has been introduced, our special departments equipped with every device that will allow of a speedy and accurate diagnosis lias been installed, so that no outside institution can legitimately compete'. All these factors have brought the public to seek admission with every hope that the best that can bo obtained will bo found at the Christchurcli Hospital. While this popularity is taxing our resources, it must be a pride to your Board, as it is to the management, to kriow that no Colonial hospital stands higher in tho public esteem. I know of 110 Colonial hospital that is so thoroughly equipped. Whereas such is tho case, the unfortunate part is that only , a section of the public is, strictly speaking, cl'gible for admission. As one being in close touch with tho desires of all scriions of the sick public, on the one hr.iid, and the medical profession 011 the other hand, it is- trusted your Board ' v'i'ii make an earnest endeavour to build a paying or private block at an early opportunity, thus settling some of the abuses of Hospital practice that arc so pressing on the gratuitous services of the honorary medical staffs. We are all aware tho answer is finance."

Mr Otley stated that they could not expect the honorary staff to work for nothing. He gave it as his opinion that it was only fair that private wards should be instituted. There were people who at present coud not use the Public Hospital, and at private hospitals there were often eases where a patient had to receive treatment- at one of the special departments of the Public Hospital. If such patients were "on the premises" they could be attended to with no trouble and far less danger. The Rev. J. K. Archer agreed with the chairman that it was a question which would have to be cousrl'TCi!. He tvas not in favour of the erea->on two standards in the one hospiti', but agreed that it was unjust that, those who paid rates could not from the special treatment at the Hospita'..