CONTROL OF HOSPITALS.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 April 1921, Page 4

CONTROL OF HOSPITALS.

COMMISSION AT CHRISTCHURCH. FURTHER EVIDENCE TAKEN. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. The Hospitals Commission sat here to* day. Air. J. H. Hall, on behalf of several county councils, submitted that as far as country districts were concerned regard should be had to the number of patients treated and the mean of popu* lation. That would provide a more equitable basis of assessment for the country. He also urged that there be set in action some propaganda on behalf of hospitals to encourage private benefactions. In his opinion the ideal system was to have three grades in a hospital, (1) for free treatment, (2) for those who would pay the actual cost of treatment, and (3) for those wiling to pay such fees as would return a substantial profit.

Air. George Bowron, on behalf of the South Island Alethodist Orphanage, suggested the Government should grant a subsidy of 25 per cent, on voluntary contributions.

Dr. John Guthrie, representing the Canterbury division of the British Medical Association, submitted that private wards should be established at hospitals where paying patients would foe taken, such wards to constitute a separate department, but under the united control. The idea was that these wards should take the place of the present private hospitals and nursing homes. Hospital Boards should take over the entire responsibility of the care of the sick. A properly developed system would largey pay for itself and ease considerably! the present burden on the taxpayers. The commission adjourned till tc« morrow.