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Hokitika Guardian, 19 December 1927, Page 2

II hoarding the expenditure on hospitals, Dr Vnlintino recently expressed the opinion that concentration was a wise policy to pursue. Rut he also spoke of tho gSowiilg cost in administration, lie was speaking at the opening of the new wing of tlie Waikato Hospital, Wlieii as Director-General of Health, lie confessed that ho was somewhat concerned at the increasing cost of hospitals. He said that one way anil another we had five beds for every 1000 of tlie population, which was the largest proportion in the world. In spite of this it woufd appear that hospital boards throughout the Dominion were considering it necessary to increase their accommodation, and just at the present time he felt they had all they could go to stand the increase in expenditure. There was no doubt our hospitals, taking tin-in 'together, were extremely good and well managed, and lie wished to make it clear that lie considered the base hospital should be tlie centre of the medical and surgical activities of the hospital district. 'Flu-re was no doubt that outlying hospitals were necessary, but they should be more in the nature of receiving stations, where patients could be treated Until Midi time as they could be removed by Unitor ambulance to the nearest base hospital. Tin- roads had improved si touch that there was practically very little now of what was known as the

“country hospital.” nailer tilt- control of one medical man. II tlie policy were followed out it would allow the authorities to concent rate on the development of hast* hospitals, which was very necessary in order that they inigliL be kept abreast of modern ideas Dr Yalintine went on to remark that lie had bail tlie opportunity recently of inspecting the principal hospitals nl Great Britain and the Continent, and 1 1 is colleague. Dr Watt, who had also been to America, confirmed his opinion that the Dominion had every reason to be pleased with the hospital system, even alter comparison with some of those great, wealthy countries. We must, however, go slow just now. We bad gone far enough. This advice it would appear is necessary to assimilate in all forms of local government, to say nothing of course with regard to general government.