MODERN HOSPITALS

Hokitika Guardian, 26 April 1921, Page 3

MODERN HOSPITALS

REFORM TN CONTROL. PROPOSALS BY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. Dr John Guthrie, representing the Canterbury Division of the New Zealand Branch of the British Medical As- j soeintion, brought before tile Hospital J Commission at Christchurch the asso- , ciation’.s plans to have private paying : wards attached to public and general j hospitals. | Dr Guthrie said that the present hos- 1 pital system was the product of an old system introduced into New Zealand hy the pioneers. No definite plan had 1 been followed in reference to the ox- j pedioncy of the whole population. The | hospitals in New Zealand were regarded j ns charitable institutions, largely be- : cause there were honorary staffs attach- [ ed to them. It was an anarelironism to , find well-to-do people in hospitals receiving the services of doctors for which they did not pay. Many well-to-do people thought that there was nothing derogatory in going into a hospital in the same ward as a poor person who could not afford to pay. Many people who were able to pay took advantage of the generosity offered hy hospital hoards. The solution suggested by tho Medical Ascociation was that the entire responsibility for the care of tho sick should he undertaken by the hospital boards. All progressive countries were adopting that plan, which had proved to he satisfactory. The boards should make provision for paying wards, which would he separate institutions, hut would he attached to the general hospitals. There would be general staff' for the free mid the sella late institutions, hut patients in the separate institutions could have their own doctors if they wished. The plan would do away with the present private nursing hospitals. Tn those hospitals the proper plants and medical attendance' were not available. In them, in a crisis, a patient’s only sheet anchor i was telephonic communication with a doctor. It was not fair that risks should he undertaken for want of j organisation. Under the association’s plan, every patient would be watched , hy doctors all the tinAe, and would he , attended to immediately attendance j became necessary. In these days it was | imperative to have adequate plants for i

pathological and other hospital work. 'Phe plan could he nothing hut beneficial to the ratepayers. It would go a long way to relieve them of the financial burden of which they complained. Revenue would he obtained from the paying wards, and less would he required in rates. Afedical men would work under more favourable conditions. They would he stimulated to do still better work. Tile different institutions should he separate, hut nil should he controlled hv one hoard. Patients who could afford to go into the paying wards would pay lor the attendance and facilities enjoyed by patients in the free ward.

In reply to Dr A eland, Dr Guthrie said that a separate wing could be established at the general hospitals for maternity cases. Patients could have their own doctors, and also the advice general staff. Tt had been said that the plan would lie a hardship on ladies who conducted private hospitals at present. He did not think that would he |o. They might he absorbed in the general institutions under the hospital hoards. The practical knowledge possessed hv those ladies was valuable, hut ladies could not stand the strain of conducting the private hospitals. They would he relieved of that strain, as private hospitals would lie knocked out by the arrangement. The institutions at the general hospital should he kept quite separate in all respects except unity of,control.

In reply to the lion W. H. Triggs, l)r Guthrie said that it was not desir-

able to demand guarantees from paying patents, and lie did not think that the had debts would he any more than the fees hospital hoards failed Lo collect at present. rn reply to further questions, lie-said that there was a general opinion that patients had better treatment in public hospitals than in private hospitals. Thu accommodation for’cases in private hospitals in Christchurch was not sufficient for tlu> demand; the enterprise was not advancing with the population.

Mr J. I). Hall, representing the Selwyu, Malvern, Tawera, I’apanui, llallswell and Springs County Councils said that it was desirable to supply special treatment for people who paid fees. There should he three grades (1) People who received absolutely trqe treatment; (2) People who paid the actual cost of their treatment; (3) People who paid a sum that would yield a substantial profit to the hospital.