MEDICAL AID FOR UNEMPLOYED

Evening Star, Issue 22145, 27 September 1935, Page 3

MEDICAL AID FOR UNEMPLOYED

REVISION OF SYSTEM SOUGHT LACK OF'CONFIDENCE IN STUDENTS A deputation - from tho , Dunedin branch of the National Unemployed Workers’ Movement waited on the Otago' Hospital Board last evening to draw attention.to what the movement regards as unsatisfactory features of medical administration in Dunedin.'

Mr F. M'Comish said that he wished to speak of several matters relating to the medical attention given to the unemployed, the poorer classes, and necessitous cases generally. , He felt that it was rather paradoxical that Dunedin, which led the whole Dominion in medical science, .lagged far behind the other < centres in its handling of medical aid. It was considered that those in authority did, not study sufficiently the care of cases to which, he was ' referring. In the first place, he would stress the fact that they considered that the system'.'of sending out medical students to deal with cases of sickness among unemployed and poorer people was wrong. Inability or inexperience in, such cases might cause serious .consequences, and they strongly felt that only certificated doctors should be allowed to practise. The present position apparently was that a sixth-year, medical student was sent out to determine whether or not the case warranted the attendance of a doctor. Of course, it was appreciated that the students were doing their best, ■but it: was ‘an inescapable fact that they had not sat for their examinations, and those examinations might prove that they were hopeless failures ®nd quite iinfit to _be doctors. Mr M'Comish held Wellington up as an example, where they considered a desirable system was in force. If an unemployed or poor person required medical' attention, there he could visit his own doctor, 'who would care and prescribe for him. He could take the prescription to be made up by any chemist, and the Hospital Board paid both the doctor, whether he was a member of its honorary staff or not, and for the medicine. The annual cost was less than £2,000, and Mr M‘Oomislx was quite confident that the scheme could lie inaugurated at' considerably less cost in Dunedin, If these people could consult their own doctors, the difficulty and stress of having to travel what was often a long distance to the out-patients’ department would also he eliminated, Mr M'Comish added -that they realised ■ that the housing conditions at this department did not permit of very rapid handling of patients, but they asked, if it were possible, that more doctors should be in attendance to expedite the treatment. He himself had waited there from 1 p.m. to 6.15 p.m. before he could be given attention. The notice board outside the department was out of date in its allocation of hours, and this had created considerable confusion. The chairman (Mr J. W. Dove): The board had no knowledge of that. You can rest assured that it will I he attended to immediately. ' k Mrs E, Bennett supported Mr M‘Cornish, said suggested that suburban, nursing divisions could be linked up with the scheme outlined by him. She added that she believed the cost to the Wellington board was £2,000 for the doctors and £750 for the medicine. Mr Dove informed the deputation that the hoard would give its representations every consideration. Members quite realised the short-comings of the out-patients’ department, but were confronted by many problems. These they were endeavouring to overcome. The deputation then withdrew, Mr Dove stating that the branch of the movement w'ould be advised later as to the findings of the hoard.