HOSPITAL CONTROL

Hokitika Guardian, 29 August 1930, Page 3

HOSPITAL CONTROL

MR BEGG’S STRICTURES. WELLINGTON BOARD’S REPLY. (By Telegraph—Press Association). WELLINGTON, Aug. 28. Resentment at the criticisms of Mp 11. Campbell .Begg against the hospital system of New Zealand was expressed by members at to-day’s meeting of the Wellington Hospital Board.' The particular application of those remarks to the Wellington institution was assumed. It was stated that Dr Begg’s opinions had caused more harm than good. In answer to a question hv a member, it was explained that Mr Begg’s appointment to the staff of the hospital -had been for four years, but as he was absent from New Zealand at the time that the position .fell vacant the question of his reappointment had been bold over.

Tlie Chairman, Mr F. Castle, said that, altrougli Mr Begg did not criticise tlie Wellington .Hospital, liis.asso.fiation; with 'that institution had been 'SO/ lengthy that it was obvious that 'ie had in. mind.a good deal of what 'had gone on in the Wellington Hospital, Consequently, it was a question, whether the Board sliquld make an. official reply. , He did. not. think, too much notice .should be-given, to the! views expressed by Mr Begg, although.; mni.e sliould be given,?. The hospital! system..of,;New ..Zealand was not perfect, but Mr Begg had gone tlie wrong way in attempting to reform it. Regarding alleged unfavourable comoarison of New Zealand hospitals with the institutions abroad, said Mv Castle here was no other country with a hosoital system similar to that in New Zealand.

Mr Begg'was going too far in plac- : ng all of the responsibility For the medical difficulties 011 the Boaid, said L he Chairman. Certainly, the Board vas officially responsible for the conL rol [off the nfeclical staff, ! bfi-t there •vas no doubt that the organisation was 'argely in the hands of the .medical men themselves. 111 listening to their ■ecommendatjons, the Board ,did no* attempt to interfere with their patients, or with the handling of the oatients; hut, instead, endeavoured to T et the opinions of tho medical men. If there were inefficient conditions •existing in the Wellington . Hospital. Miey were largely due to the medical /staff itself. Mr C. M. Luke said he did not know vlfnt knowledge Mr Begg had of oiitnde hospitals, but lie understood that Mr Begg had not connected, as a medical officer, with any' institution >tlier than tho Wellington' Hospital. The Board- welcomed, and endeavoured to put into effect, —any suggestions made by the Doctors of Wellington who had been abroad, but Mr Begg’s criticism was not creditable.