HOSPITAL SYSTEM

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 342, 1 October 1932, Page 5

HOSPITAL SYSTEM

WIDE RE-ORGANISATIGN Wellington, Friday. In the coui'se of its report, the Commission reeommends a eomplete re-organisaticn of the existing system of hospital administration. The following is a summary of the definite recommendations : — (1) That tlie forty-five hospital distiiets at present existing be abolished and that hospital districts numbering, say, eighceen, he established, with base liospitals in the centres of population and district or cottage hospitals throughout the individual areas. (2) That a Boavd of Hospitals be established, with wide powers and full control over the hospital organisation. It is suggested that the board should foithwith cavefully invostigata the position of eveiy hospital in the Dominion. (3) Appointment of general managers for eaeh base hospital and of manageis for district hospitals, subject to control hy the general manager of base hospital. (4) Appointment of senior mediccl officsrs in charge of medical and surgical administration. (5) Ci'assiiication of hospital board employees, with a, view to standardisation of the service. (6) Fixntion of hospital fees to eover full cost of treatment and mrintc-uance during stay in hospital. (7) Appointment at all base hospitals of speeial offieers to investigate tho ability of paticnts to pay full fees. (8) Extcn-rion. of duties of speeial officer to inelude the investigation of circumstances of those requiring outpatient treatment, in order that hospital facilities may not be abused to the detriment of private medical practitioners. (9) Fixation of Government subsidy by Board of Hospitals not to exceed 10s in the £ from the. Conselidated Fund. (10) Consequential reduetion of the statistical branch of the Health Department and of the elerical work of the boards, (11) Standardisation of supplies to be cai'ried out mainly by tho Board of Hospitals and the bulk purehase of all hospital board requirements either through the Board of Hospitals or through the metropolitan hospitals. (12) Reorganisation of medical treatment at hospitals, including the formation of proper out-patient clinics at all base hospitals, so that only those who need actual treatment in hospital are admitted as patients. ' "The field for reform in the administration of hospitals is unlimiti ed, as also is the scope for economy, Und while the foregoing summary of recommendations and suggestions .may not be eomplete in every detail, .it is impossible for us in. the time at our disposal to" go. further into the matter," says the Commission, 'The .duty -is Ohe that should he undertaken hy the Central.Board which we have rhcoiiimended. "We estimate that the savings

which might he effected as a result of our recommendations should ultimately reach at least £300,000 per annum to the Consolidated Fund, while the saving to local rates is impossible of calculation."