PUBLIC HOSPITALS

Hokitika Guardian, 26 August 1930, Page 3

PUBLIC HOSPITALS

EXPERTS’ STRONG CRITICISM

BOARD CONTROL BLAMED

WELLINGTON, August 25

Dr. Cnmpb.-!1 Begg-surgeon, Avas a passenger by the Makura, Avhich arrived from Frisco to-day, after an absence abroad of six months, during Avhich he attended a medical conference at Madrid, and spent the remainder of the time visiting the principal hospitals of the Continent, Great Britain and America. He investigated the working of over a hundred institutions in the States, Canada, Great Britain, France, Germany, and Spain, and also intervknved persons of all kinds in any way interested or concerned in the control, administration and daily rounds of these institutions, including many of the 'best-knOivn names in the medical Avorld.

Dr Begg has come to the conclusion that Neiv Zealand can derive little satisfaction from her present position..

He said“On account of our splendid system of general education and a certain independent outlook not prevailing in older countries, the medical and nursing professions are equal to those of most countries and superior to many. Our public hospitals, on the other hand, largely on account of method of control now almost universally abandoned elseivliere, compared unfavourably av ith the hospitals abroad.”

MEDICAL STAFF DEFECTS

Dr B ;,.id our medical staff Avere badly organised, or not organised at all. Appointments Avere haphazard and there Avas a lack of co-operation and good feeling betAveen the staffs and the boards of control that existed else where. As a result, the difficulties of handling large bodies df patients effectively Avas accentuated or rendered impossible. The average stay of patients in hospitals both for treatment and diagnosis Avas far too long, and the organisation of nursing service insufficient. There Avas too little supervision of the Avork of junior men and the senior ones had too much scope for hasty and Avrong methods of treatment, on the one hand, and neglect of thorough investigation on the other.

MORE DEFECTS

Equipment Avas brought and additions carried out on . the advice of superintendents, AA'here only specialists of different departments Avere capable df real direction. Chronic cases Avere mixed up Avith those requiring, real medical and surgical attention, and the services of the staff Avere dissipated instead of being concentrated on effective medical and surgical part of the hospital. Infectious cases Avere under the same superintendence as others. The arrangments Avere at variance Avith all modern practice and as a rule these eases AAere deprived of the benefit df the visiting staff. All these disablities AA r ere due, in a largo measure, if not entirely, to our system of boards electeci eve 17 tAvo years. BOARD'S SHORTCOMINGS.

Dr. Begg goes on to say that it had been found that men requisite standing will rarely submit to a disagreeable experiment of such election; that the boards so elected are too unwieldly, that members will not give themselves up to the study otf hospital management, but simply look on membership of the board as the first step on tfte political ladder. They give sufficient attention to routine matters brought before them, and are hopelessly incapable of constructive work. The more capable members are swamped by others, and possibly not re-elected, if they adopt a policy for the good of the hospitals, which is at variance with some political slogan.

POLITICS BLAMED. After instancing examples of capable management in the States, Dr Begg adds: Our hospitals in New Zealand have become purely political. A Minister from the dominant Pai>-,» in power in general charge and national politics have invaded Boarcl elections. Much political propaganda undermines the whole hospital structure, and some of it has unfortunately found its way. to the Statute Book. The present, .system has run it 'full course and T; there was urgent need that Our reproach in this sphere should be taken away.

Dr. Begg goes on to make recommendation to effect this. He says our future development lies on co-opera-tive efforts, and the Mayo clinic has furnished an example.