HOSPITAL REFORM

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 238, 26 June 1918, Page 4

HOSPITAL REFORM

Strong protests against the everincreasing hospital levies have been made annually in recent years, but very little progress has so far been made towards, a satisfactory solution of the problems' involved. A nunibor of interesting facts wero brought to light at the conference held yesterday between the Minister of Public Health and representatives of the Wellington Hospital Board and contributing bodies, and some valuable suggestions were made. It cannot, however, be said that a reconciliation of the conflicting interests was effected. The war has increased the difficulties of the position, and has omphasised the necessity for far-reaching reforms; but it would be unreasonable to expect tho Government to ask Parliament just now to deaf with the mattor in a thorough and comprehensive*, manner. The Minister admitted that the basis of tho subsidy was inequitable, and expressed the hope that during tho coming session legislation would be passed to put into operation a better scheme. It would not be fair to ask the Government to do more than this at tho present time. But a good deal might be don%to improve existing methods of hospital administration without invoking tho assistance of Parliament. The authorities concerned ought to give their favourable consideration to the Minister's suggestion that a business manager should bo appointed— a thoroughly competent and energetic business man," who would give his special attention to the purchasing of stores, the collection of fees, and other like matters upon which the efficient and economic management of a- modern hospital so largely depends. _ It' is almost certain that th« savings made by such an official_ in tho course of a year would pay his sala.ry several times over. Tho wide scope of his duties would give him many opportunities of reducing the cost of maintenance without lessening the usefulness of the Hospital. As regards the collection of fees,it is plainly tho duty of the board to see that thoso patients who can afford to pay should bo made to pay. But public opinion would not tolerate anything in tho nature of harsh treatment of poor people. Tho great problem which the authorities have to solve is how to maintain a just balance between the claims of efficiency and economy. Their aim should be to secure the maximum of valuo at a minimum of cost. Our hospitals must be kept up to date. The best appliances and methods of medical science must bo made available for the treatment of tho sick. Science knows no such thing as finality. To be content with anything short of the best is shortsighted parsimony. It is not true economy. One member of the conference seemed to think that greater efficiency nnd economy could he secured by national control. This suggestion may have a good deal to commend_if, but it certainly has many serious drawbacks. It opens up a big question, and the need for caution against making a backward step is strongly emphasised by Mr. C. M. Luke's reminder that local control superseded national administration because of the laxity of the latter method of management. There is no doubt that the problem of hospital control will have to bo reconsidered sooner or later. _ It ought to form part'of the still greater problem of local government as a whole, which Parliament has often debated but which still remains unsolved.