HOSPITAL BILL

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 119, 16 November 1932, Page 11

HOSPITAL BILL

PROPOSED CHANGES

OUTLINE OF MEASURE

It is expected that several important changes in, hospital policy will be contained in the amendment to. the Hospitals Act which the Minister of Health (the Hon. J. A. Young) hopes to introduce shortly into the House of Representatives.

■ The Bill, it is understood, •will pro-, vide tho machinery for bringing about changes in the number of hospital districts/either by the-amalgamation of certain districts of by an alteration of boundaries which will ensure that thero is a greater community of interest between the local bodies forming the hospital district than exists in- some, parts -of the Dominion at present. It is gathered that the .measure, will provide for the appointment of a Commission consisting of a Magistrate in any instance where alterations: are proposed, and this Commission will be. required to furnish a recommendation to the Minister. In'the light of any such recommendation' the proposal may be rejected, or, by Order, in Council, the, readjustment applied-for may be'made! Authority, it is understood, will be conferred on the Director-General of Health to require hospital boards, where necessary, to provide maternity services within their districts. Many hospital boards make, provision for maternity cases; but others have questioned the right, of the Department to .insist upon the:provision of these facilities. .--.'■•

The Bill, it is believed, will also seek to overcome the difficulty at present experienced in the collection of hospital fees from patients who have been awarded special damages in accident cases. ' . •".'■■.

The present restrictions relative to members of boards who are also contractors , are to be amended. The Bill, it is reported, will .allow members toJtender up to £10 for any one contract and up to £25 in any one year without being disqualified from membership "or rendered ineligible from standing. Airother clause, it is understood, will deal with the accounts of separate institutions, and will provide that, with the approval of the Miniver, these institutions may incur ■ bank overdrafts to a certain figure.