PRIVATE WARDS IN HOSPITALS

Hokitika Guardian, 31 October 1930, Page 2

PRIVATE WARDS IN HOSPITALS

ENGLAND RECOGNISES NEED. DUNEDIN SURGEON RETURNS. AUCKLAND, Oct. 29 “The necessity for providing private wards for paying patients -in public hosita-ls is rapidly being recognised in England,” said Dr F. S. Batcheloi, the prominent Dunedin surgeon and lecturer at the Otago University Medical School, who returned by the Rangitane after a holiday visit to England. . “There are a largo number o) middle-class people who cannot afford Che expense of a- private hospital, but who do not want to accept charity, he continued. “With the enormous growth of hospitals in recent years, the English .people are abandoning the idea that hospitals should he maintained by private charitable con-

tributions. In contrast to New Zealand hospitals, English hospitals are almost entirely controlled by their staffs, who advise the Hospital Boards on all matters of administration.

“Except in the matter of -equipmentwith medical and surgical appliances, our hospitalf! compare very favourably with those in England. Experimental work is receiving far more attention now than was the case some years ago, when England, seemed to lie lagging behind America.” MIDWIFERY TR A l NING.

Many improvements were being introduced into courses of midwifery training, as it was realised that this branch -of medical science had not been well taught in the past. Scientist)! were working hard on several new anaesthetics, which would have less risk attached to their use tiuin) those used at present. TREATMENT OF CANCER. Much work was being done in investigating radium treatment lor cancer, and a new hospital was being *\s-

tablished in London for the treatment oil- cancer by radium processed. A professor of radiology had recently been appointed at the University of Loudon lor the first time. I lie Continent of Europe was far ahead of England ?n radium work. “Thougf.i eminent medical authorities have not reached any final decisions about the possibilities of radium treatment, it is now generally realised that it is not a ‘cure-all,’ as was once thought,” isaid Dr Batchelor. “Post-,graduate work is now receiving a great- deal of attention, and J was delighted to see that New Zealand students were doing remarkably well, and were very well thought o-l. Dr Batchelor expressed the opinion that students could obtain as sound a training in New Zealand for the first three years of their course as anywhere in the world, hut advanced students had not the same opportunity to get wide clinical experience.