OUR PUBLIC HOSPITALS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2805, 1 November 1924, Page 3

OUR PUBLIC HOSPITALS.

ATTITUDE OF HEALTH DEf PARTMENT OUTLINED. HOSPITALS COULD HAVE PRIVATE WARDS. One of the questions which fro quently recurred at the Bryce hospital inquiry, which was continued at Palmerston N. yesterday before the Commissioner, Mr E. Page, S.M., is whether people, obviously wealthy and able to pay for private hospital treatment, can demand ilic right of admission to a public hospital. The attitude of the medical profession was sought by the Commissioner, but a number of witness es were non-committal.

The attitude of the Health Department, however, was outlined by the secretary, Air Ernest A. S. Killick, who in the course of evidence on this particular phase of hospital administration, said he did not think any ratepayer had necessarily the right to admission. “Generally speaking,” he continued, “hospitals are for (he - destitute and for those of small means who cannot pay for private medical and nursing treatment. There is no hard and fast rule, however, it being left in a very great measure to the discretion of the various Boards. In an outlying district, for instance in which there is a limited medical service and no private hospital the facilities of the public hospital are naturally greatly extended, “In Palmerston N., however, matters are different and to give every one the right of; admission would necessitate certain alterations in existing methods. For instance, the fees would require to be raised. It costs on an average approximately .17/6 a day to treat patients in hospitals throughout the Dominion, i.e. if 17/6 a day were received from every patient there would be no hospital rate. 17/6 represents therefore, the full average cost including all overhead charges of the relief given to persons in our public hospitals. The man, therefore, who is able to pay should pay full cost oT bis treatment, and not the, mere 9/- a day at present charged. “Then there is the question of the honorary medical staff. At present they are willing to give their services free to those in pftor circumstances. Could they jjo expected to do so fr»r people able to pay? “1 make these remarks merely to show ibat' hospitals in New Zealand are by no moans entirely community hospitals at present. The question of whether they should become so is one that is at present being - verv much discussed and is flic subject of very serious consideration and investigation by the. Department. “Dr, MacEachern, the associate director of ihe American College ol Surgeons, is visiting New Zealand and an opportunity will therefore be provided for obtaining first band informal ion as to community hospitals as they exist, in the States.

“It would be'-'prcmnlnre, therefore. T think, to give any decided opinion upon, the question of what form exactly a system of community hospitals should take.. There arc many interests involved, some of which are in danger of conflicting and every aspect, of the question, therefore, requires the closest, most thorough and unbiassed investigation.

“There are many cognate questions involved: for example that,of whether a system of national health insurance should he introduced, (o provide inter a'lia, for the payment of hospital fees. A commission has been appointed in Australia, and another I believe in England, to deal with this question. The Department is considering the matter independently, but would naturally await with interest the findings and evidence of the commissions in question before making a definite recommendation to the Government upon the subject. “Whether therefore, the commnnilv hospital is to arrive shortly it cannot at. present be said to exist generally throughout New Zealand and any Board lias a perfect right al present if it considers (hat facilities exist for private medical and nursing treatment, for those in its district able (o pay therefor, (o state that its institution is only available for those who cannot pay for private medical and nursing treatment.