UNDESIRABLE FEATURES

Chronicle (Levin), 17 August 1946, Page 2

UNDESIRABLE FEATURES

-Press Association

CHANGE IN HOSPITAL RATING CRITICISED

Ri/ Tplcaranh-*-

WELLINGTON, August 1(5. Undesirablo foutures of the Government 's propoaui to stabilise liospit-al rating were pointed out by tlio president of the New Zealand Hospital Boards' Association (Mr. J. W. Dove) in a statement issued today in Wellingtou. "It has been ailirmed from timo to timo by the executive of the Hospital Boards ' Association, ' ' ho said, ' ' and endorsement of the view was giveli at the last general conference of hospital boards, tliaf the question of the source of hospital linancu is oue for consideralion by the loeal contributory authorities and Parliament rather than by hospital boards, whose main duty is adequately to provide for the treatment of patients, and ia doing so, to lay out as oconomieaUy aa may be the funds which comc into llieir hands under a system laid down by stainte. It cannot bo said that hospital boards represent one seetion in particular, as they are equally responsiblo to the general taxpayers and local ratepayers. Moreover, tho \ iew may be generally accoptcd that alt persons aro eitlier directly or indiroetly botli goucral and local taxpayers. ' ' The proportion of tho total expcnditure of hospital boards wliich is provided by centrai Government funds (Consolidated Eund and Social Socurity Fund) has risen. sinee tho advent of social security to over 75 per cent. The local rates now provide uudor 25 per cont. of the total. The trend towards nationaiisation of hospitals, therefore, becomes apparcnt, for it is generally aeeepted that local control and local financial responsibiiity must go hand iu hani. Extended Control, "The control which is exercised by the Government, including approval of tho estimates and capital cxpenditure, tho right to vary the subsidy, to approvo appointments, to mahe inspeetions, to call meetings of tho boards, and to require boards to mahe adequate provision for treatment, has been extended with ihe operation of the Boeial Security Act by the further requiremeut tliat not only must adequate provision be mado for treatment, but also the services must be supplied free to the pationt. "The proposal of the Government to stabilise tho lovy contomplutos the same staudard of treatment being inude available for all persons, so that if oue hospital board has not the facilities for cortain specialist services it must be prepurod to reimburso the cost to the board which supplies thoso facilitioB. "Tho stabilisatiou of the lovy envisages a greater degree of supcrvision over the various expenditures of hospital boards, aitd thero is the daugor of do\ elopment of facilities for treatment suft'ering through the expodieut of i tnerely reducing cxpenditure. Boards i should be allowed to develop their pollcy in nccordunce witlt ihe medical roquiremoats of their district. ; "The idca of reducing the numbor; of hospital board disiricts has been dis- , cussed from timo to timo sinee 1908, i and the whole question has been continually under lire. Thcre is liltle to support the idea that to replace the existing number of boards by oue Jargo contraJ control or , lessor number of 1 large boards wouhl eJl'eel uuy econotnies or provide more o.ilicient matiago- : inent. The reverse might well be the case and the benelit of tlio loeal eom- 1 muuity of interest might be losl. "