THE OUT-DISTRICTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 August 1919, Page 3

THE OUT-DISTRICTS.

PROVISION FOR DOCTORS AND NURSES.

At the New Plymouth Borough Council's meeting last night, a circular letter was received from the Public Health Dci partment regarding the supply of doctors and nurses to outer districts. Regarding nurses, as far as possible they would possess medical and maternity certificates. The nurses wohld be entitled to charge, according to schedule, those able to pay, and reduce the fees or serve gratuitously in necessitous i-ases. Fees collected to be paid into the Hospital Board's funds as the Board would control the expenditure and pay the nurses. Under clause 14, power was given to any local authority to apply to the Minister to provide a doctor for the district, or for two or more districts agreeable to join in the undertaking.. Any deficiency in the donor.-, earning, under guarantee, to be provided out of rates or by special rates. The scheme had many advantages, chiefly that the financial rcsponsibilty for the doctors was* spread over the entire property of the district or districts affectedProvision was also granted any local body to pay out of its ordinary funds moneys in assistance of any society, organisation or institution not established for the purpose of profit, and whose object was to promote public health. This clause gave the Borough and County Councils and Road Boards power to grant subsidies to Medical Associations and Clr.os from their ordinary funds. Section lfld of the Counties' Act, 1909, also gave power to County Councils to contribute funds towards erection and maintenance of hospitals for relief purposes. The law now provides means Vjy which efficient nursing and medical services can be provided for settlers in the outer districts. The Department therefore recommended Hospital Boards to work in conjunction with the Department and Borough and County Councils and Road Boards in encouraging the establishment of Medical Associations and Clubs for the provision of nurses and doctors for the outer districts. Tho people who pushed settlement onward and became producers in tho outer districts had many trials and discomforts, not the least beicg those attached to health, nursini?. and maternity and medical services. By the combination of the State, the Hospital Board (upon whom is specially laid the important duty of guarding the health of the people in their districts), and the local authorities, the cost would bo .reduced to a minimum and a higher I standard of health would be assurred.— Received.