THE HOSPITAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 15, 12 July 1911, Page 3

THE HOSPITAL.

FOR ALL CLASSES. ''Humanity" writes to the editor:— Sir,—The following is an extract from the Dominion report of the recent Hospital Conference: — The paper read at the morning session by Mr. Mackay on the subjects of hospital finance was discussed. A good dual of discussion took place us to the method of deciding whether an applicant for treatment at a hospital should l»e admitted or not. Mr. Kirk (Wellington) said the custom here was for the board to issue the permission after due ' investigation; and he also said that the principle was adopted that those who could pay for outside medical treatment were not eligible for admission, hi this Mr. Kirk was at variance with the Duncdin delegates, and Mr. Bell ringer (Taranaki) strongly condemned the class distinction which Wellington's policy would engender. The hospitals were supported liv the rates, and every member of the (•(immunity should be able to be treated in them. Called on for an opinion, Dr. ■Valintine said (hat hospitals, in the first instance, were established for those people who were not in a position to pay. lint a hospital could not refuse to admit, if there was room, patients who were in a position to pay for outside treatment. (Hear, hear.) What he could not understand, however, was that patients who were ratepayers should object to pay the hospital maintenance fees. A good many patients took up the attiI tudc that the payment of hospital rates j entitled them to free treatment. No [ action was taken.

1 also extract from a leading London daily part of a well-known English journalist's contribution on tile subject of the National Insurance Bill, introduced into the House of Commons by the Chancellor of the Exchequer:—'"The health of the people is to be made an affair of the State as it has never been before. Illness will cause loss not alone to the individual but to the community at large, therefore illness is to be systematically fought by sanatoria and by other means. The doctor will inevitably become more and more a public servant paid by the State; privately endowed hospitals will more and more decline in numbers and in importance. Just as the Education Act gave us an annv of State-trained and Statesupported teachers, so the National Insurance Rill will give us State-trained and State-supported doctors. I am not discussing whether this will be good or bad. 1 simply point out that it is inevitable."

This puLs the undoubted tendency of modern humanitariamsm briefly and 'well. One ciin scarcely believe that any intelligent men can, as the Wellington Board seems to do, endeavor to exclude all but tlie very poor from a public hospital, and, fortunately, our Board is not so benighted. The old idea that it was .something to be ashamed of to bo treated in a public hospital is happily exploded and with it has gone the old notion which consequently prevailed that treatment at a public' hospital was "cheap and nasty." Our hospitals are I no longer dependent on charitable conI tributions, but are supported by the State out of funds supplied by the general taxpayers of the Dominion and the local ratepayers, and, as a. consequence, our are not now "cheap and nasty," but as a rule so well constructed and managed that no private hospital or nursing home can possibly favorably compare with them in the care and treatment of the sick. This being so—and if it is not so our hospital board and its medical and nursing staff ought to be ashamed of themselves and ought to be replaced by better men—e,very person in need of medical or surgical treatment who cannot, be treated properly in liis own home has a right to be treated at the public hospital provided that there is room there, and that he is willing to pay for his treatment there according to his means. I saw that the number of inmates of our hospital receiving treatment was officially stated to be only 33, and if this is anything like a fair average, the money which has been expended in building and supplying proper appliances to the .hospital, and the large expenditure which takes, .place in connection with it cannot be 'well .spent if a much larger number of patients cannot be treated there. It win" absurd that such large buildings and such a paid staff of medical men and nurses should bo able to aecommoda!e nh! treat so small a number, and vet it i- common talk here that very many serious case*, arc constantly being treated in private hospitals and nursing homes owing to the notion that it is very difficult for anyone other than a pauper lo obtain admission to the lio- iital. 1 will not take up your space further. but I cannot refrain from adding 'hat !l i- hiyii time Hint a maternity war.l (in h separate building adjacent to the 'jencra! hospital) should be provided : and also that provision should be in:' 'e for the accommodation of a reside" I ■medical officer, to give up his whole tir'e to the hospital and other kindred wo;!;. Till' present arrangements are a poor makeshift, and are most unsatisfactory in a district such as this.