NEW ZEALAND HOSPITALS

Hokitika Guardian, 15 February 1930, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND HOSPITALS

SYSTEM OF CONTROL PRAISED.

WELLINGTON, February 10,

New Zealand’s high place in the es-

"era of the medical world abroad was discussed by Frank E. Wiedemann, of Indiana, U.S.A., who arrived from San Francisco by the Tahiti to-day. Dr Wiedemann intends to spend several weeks in New Zealand studying hospital methods. “Medical men 1 ’ from New Zealand have a very good reputation abroad/’ Dr Wiedemann said. “For some time I was. at St. Thomas’s Hospital, London, and I came in contact with several doctors from the Dominion. It, does not take one in the profession long to appraise another’s work, and all were held in high esteem. Several have contributed very valuable papers to American journals/’ The fiame of Sir Garrick Robertson, the Auckland surgeon, was mentioned especially r>y the'visiter .who said his reputation was firmly established. During his trips abroad Dr Weidemann said he had made a study of hospitals/ tlie systems upon- which . they \yete run?'and the methods employed by,, medical and bouse staffs .He stated that he was particularly interested in New Zealand from this viewpoint, and although he had heard much, about the conditions here, he was anxious to investigate furfher. A large proportion of The American hospitals were run by private syndicates, the system being somewhat akin to that upon which private hospitals were conducted in New Zealand. The public-owned hospital was rarely met with in America, but Dr; Weidemann said he though that in time the New Zealand system would find permanent favour in the United "States. -■ *'

At present the public had Tittle'or no Control of hospital finance' in America' A hospital superintendent charged* wlia’t’ fee he thought fit. and there was a tendency for heavy charges to be made. This reacted unfavourably upon the. community,'which, although it received' Expert attention often had* to pay too heavily for it The hospitals were not fay removed from political control, and' this also was not a good feature. The charges upon patients in the public hoSjdtei in' New Zealand were remarkably Tow compared tfith the hospitals in America. This had no doubt been TT^ade. possible by. the fact that publicly elected hhdies were in control, responsible to the public for expenditure, and not' out to make profits.

Dr. Weidemann referred to the system, whereby young doctors who had graduated at the Dunedin Medical School were encouraged to take up their residence in public hospitals for a time, in order to gain experience not only of operations and general diagnosis, hut also of treatment and hospital system. This was an excellent method of- training young doctors. Something similar was followed in America. There was no doubt that New Zealand had a very fine hospital system. He was certain he would come across much which would he of value to him in his work in the United States.