FOR THE BACK-BLOCKS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 145, 6 November 1912, Page 5

FOR THE BACK-BLOCKS.

MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. By Telegraph—Own Correspondent, j 1 " Wellington, Last Night. ; Speaking generally, reports the lit spector-General of Hospitals in a report presented to Parliament, the hospital system is working well, but its efficiency would be materially increased if boards would but adopt a comprehensive System of outdoor medical treatment, whereby the poorest in the land would receive adequate relief in their own homfes. •: The present necessities of the Dominion, however, do not require a verv elaborate system of outdoor medical'treatment, nor would it be advisable at this junc J tare to put such a scheme in operation. Nevertheless the Boards might very well consider the putting into operation of a. subsidised medical service for the benefit of settlers in the more remote country ■ districts, and thus in some measiire requite settlers for the expense they are put to in maintaining a system in the benefits of which they can hardly participate to the same-'extent as the towndweller. It is undoubtedly the duty of either the boards or the Government to ensure that even in the most remote parts of the Dominion medical, service is available, which is not only within the means of the less well-to-do, but also that the service in question is reliable and efficient. A subsidised medical service for the backblocks could be put into operation with little or no alteration in hospital machinery, and if administered with discretion it would not prove a costly venture, provided that all persons receiving its benefits were made to pay, as is now the case with patients admitted to our hospitals, according to their means.