HOSPITAL POLICY

Hokitika Guardian, 11 May 1926, Page 4

HOSPITAL POLICY

ATTITUDE OF B.M.A. WELLINGTON, -May 7. Several columns of oor;v-:p mdenoc between the British Medi.-a! Association and the Minister of Health have been published. The letters go ever much the same ground as has already been covered. The British Medical Association comments in strong terms on the Minister’s attitude, and particularly his reference to Dr MacUnebcrn, mid sets out its own policy as follows: I.—The public hospitals should he so constituted as to be available for treatment for every member of the community. '1. —Patients should be divided into three classes:— (a) Those unable to pay anything. (b) Those able to pay for maintenance. (c) Those able to pay for medical attention as well as maintenance. 3—As regards paying patients, the fee should he a matter between the patient, ind his medical adviser. a.—The treatment of those patients v, ho voluntarily enter the private wards of hospitals and those who are deemed bv the secretary to be in a position to pay private fees ever and above l.iilinteiiame should not be under the medical and surgical control of the resident medical officers, but such patients should make their own arrangements for attendance with the doteor of their choice. 5. —Patients entering the paying wards should not lie attended by the stipendiary staff of the hospital, but by l.iie medical advisers of their own choice. Nothing in this clause is.to prevent a part-time stipendiary surgeon or physician from being responsible for treatment in hospital of anyone who is 1 1 is genuine private patient. G.—ln the larger hospitals, as far as practicable, the whole-time medical superintendents should confine their duties to administration.

7.—ln the case of smaller hospitals, even if the administration work remains permanently in the hands of one mini, the medical and surgical work of the public wards of the hospital shall go to the registered medical practitioners in the district, who. if they desire, shall attend tlieir own patients in hospital, except such doctors as are found by the central controlling hoard to bo unsuitable.

S.—The hosnital policy generally, with special reference to the limitation of the number of districts, should be under the control of a Board id Health or some similarly constituted central board. 9.—ln addition to the elected members, the law should he amended to permit of nomination by the Government of an appropriate number of members of all hospital hoards in virtue of the Government subsidising the hospital funds.

ID.—The Government should subsidise the capital costs of accommodation for paying patients on the sbmc basis as for non-paying patients, or, failing that, advance money at a low rate of interest.

11.—The work of the hospital hoards should be divorced front charitable aid administration to enable the hospital boards to concentrate on hospital administration.

12.—-Some modifications may be required, particularly in connection with the Dunedin Hospital, as being an integral part of the medical school of Otago University.

The above policy was re-affirmed oil June 12. 1925.