HOSPITAL REFORMS.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 July 1921, Page 4

HOSPITAL REFORMS.

The report of the Hospitals Commission contains a number of suggestions and recommendations that will need closely examining, otherwise there may be a danger of introducing reforms that may prove undesirable and expensive. At the same time there are certain matters on which the Commission and the public will be in unison. It would seem that the starting point for hospital administration should be firmly based on the fact that the State has undertaken to control all hospital and charitable aid administration, through the various boards, therefore the system must be national and the benefits available for the whole community, for it is the public which has to find the money required for the treatment of the sick and needy. Without doubt the present hospital system is open to abuse by reason of the broad ground on which it is based so far as admissions are concerned. Obviously it was never intended that those who can well afford to pay for private medical and surgical services should become patients at the public hospitals, the only institutions where those not blessed with a large share of this world’s goods can hope to, be treated when occasion necessitates. There are private hospitals, some owned by members of the medical profession, and others carried on by certificated nurses as a commercial enterprise. The main point Is what is to be done with regard to those cases which prefer treatment at the large and well-equipped public hospitals, but are well able —and willing generally—to pay at the same rate as at private hospitals. Manifestly if such cases were admitted into the public hospital in large numbers there would, under present conditions, be insufficient beds for the poorer section of the suffering public. The Commission solves this problem in the only way possible, by recommending that private ■wards be attached to the public hospital and be the means of helping the finances by a special tariff that shows a profit The cost of these extra wards would be

considerable, besides which there is a fair consensus of opinion in favor of having maternity wards attached to hospitals, and in some places it would be difficult, if not almost impossible, to erect both private and maternity wards. Where possible, if the Govern ment is willing to provide the capita l expenditure, the provision of both requirements would be beneficial, but it would be a hardship to call on the rate payers to find this money. Of the two, the maternity annexe is the more important and should have first consideration. Among the other matters dealt with by the Commission is the question of hospital fees, and a more drastic system of collection. Great care must be exercised over this, or much injustice will be done. Otherwise any improvement in the hospital administration should be cordially welcomed. There is room for considerable saving so be effected, and this matter i>s worthy of special attention.