WHAT ARE HOSPITALS FOR?

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 792, 15 April 1910, Page 7

WHAT ARE HOSPITALS FOR?

THE INDIGENT OR OTHERS? : MEDICAL MEN RAISE THE ■•.■'■• QUESTION. : ) (By Telegraph-Press Association.) Christchurch, April 13. At a meeting of the North Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid. Board the question of who were entitled to hospital, treatment iyas discussed, ileiubers of the honorary staff also waited on the, board on tho subject. The position, -as put by Dr. Acland, \vas-. -Are hospitals charitable institutions for the treatment of those only who aro unable to pay for private nursing and medical attendance, or for all, irrespective of their means?

Continuing, Dr. Acland said that, in the present circumstances, he had no doubt whatever that hospitals were charitable ■ institutions, and should be only for those unable' to pay tor private nursing and medical attendance. That charitable 'aid and 'hospital treatmeut were on a par was clearly shown from the fact that the two boards controlling them were now combined In the case rff the Curistohurch Hospital, the payment by patients was is. daily, anil, last year, the average daily cost of each jiatient was 7s. 3d. Thus, for those who paid, there was a daily charge thrown on the community of ,'fe. 6d. As the accommodation was .insufficient:,-every * well-to-do patient who sained, admission, besides receiving undeserved charily, was keeping out some deserving case. If the board undertook the responsibility of providing nursing accommodation for the well-to-do as well as for those unable to •pay for private nursing and medical attendance, then the whole system would have to be altered. A large proportion of those (routed by the- out-patient department were well-to-do, and ho questioned whether the community should provide for them. If the stuff had to undertake the treatment "of all, then the very large question of a Stale medical service would have to be considered, which wolld entail considerable expenditure. If the boards must provide for all classes it might be done by the division of hospitals into two distinct sceliohs—charity wards and accommodation for the well-to-do—board charging according to the accommodation given und the patient making his uwn arrangements with his medical attendant ro fees. The honorary staff desired that a clear ruling .should be given as tc| who were entitled lo hospital treatment It was agreed to refer the matter to the Hospital Committee.