HOSPITAL INQUIRY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 1 November 1924, Page 6

HOSPITAL INQUIRY.

FURTHER EVIDENCE. AN OUTSPOKEN WITNESS. (by telegraph—press Association. PALMERSTON N., Oct. 31. The right of admission to public hospitals and the question of a patient’s ability to pay for private treatment formed the subject of further medical views befoi-e the Bryce inquiry to-day. Mr. E. Page, S.M., presided. The inquiry relates to the treatment accorded Miss Jessie Bryce in connection with her admission to the Palmerston North hospital in June, 1923. The attitude of the British Medical Association in the matter of the position of honorary staffs in public hospitals was. placed before the commissioner by Dr. R. Campbell Begg, who watched the proceedings oil behalf of the association. The speaker strongly emphasised the attitude of the B.M.A. towards members of the honorary staff in their refusal to treat wealthy patients in public hospitals, but pointed out, that in no circumstances was the health of patients to be jeopardised by any such action. He pointed out that when the Medical Practitioners Bill was being placed before Parliament, and he had been called upon to give evidence, the argument had been used that a doctor might be called to an accident or an urgent ease and might refuse to attend until he had received or was guaranteed a fee. The association had then decreed that any action of this character would constitute infamov*s conduct in a professional respect. “The question of honorary medical , staffs is very unsatisfactory throughout the whole of the Dominion,” continued Dr. Begg.” Hospital boards look upon their honorary medical men merely as those who will .carry put their duties and perforin their operations, but they do hot regard them as advisers as to any improvement ill the management of the institutions. It is the cohviction of the association that the failure of these boards to utilise the , service and a’dvice of honoraty staffs in the way of improving the hospitals and making thehi fit for modern requirements, kah had more influence than any Other factor in keeping hospitals iff New Zealand in their present state of inefficiency. I say this advisedly, for in many respects the hospitals af© inefficient.” Dr. Begg added that apart from the treatment of the sick v and the indigent, one of the very important aspects of a hospital was that scientific knowledge which was to be gained, by medical men concerned, which would in turn lead to wider experience in the profession and better medical services generally. Tile association favoured the system of honorary staffs with proper conditions. They advocated the establishment of a eommiinity hospital system and divided the people into three classes—poor, middle class, and wealthy. He thought provision should be made for the treatment of poor people, to whom three guineas was a vast sum, and he said that some indication should be given prior to entry as to how much could be paid. He decried what he called the indiscriminate dunning of poor patients by hospital hoards in order to improve their financial position. In regard to the large middle class, the doctor said that many people regarded a public hospital in a. similar light to gaol, and would go to- any length to he allowed private treatment. .The B.M.A. did not think the profes- ; sion was justified in allowing these , people to go to such lengths, for sOnie , of them were financially crippled for years as a restilt. For this it was difficult to find a remedy. . Wealthy people who. could afford to Pay for the ; best should receive the best facilities , that were available in a hospital. , “By having such a system,” con- . eluded Dr. Begg, which caters for the i whole community, hospitals, instead of . being looked upon with dread, will be [ regarded ■in their proper light, where : sickness is relieved aff'd proper medical r attention is secured.”