STATE MEDICAL SERVICE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 March 1941, Page 8

STATE MEDICAL SERVICE

TREATMENT OF OUT PATIENTS HOSPITAL BOARD'S ATTITUDE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, March 10. A decision not to introduce free outpatient treatment under the State medical service scheme till the Government brings down its regulations for the service was reached at an Auckland Hospital Board meeting tonight. An amendment that the board co-operate with the Government in bringing the service into effect was rejected by eight votes to three. The chairman, Mr. Allan Moody, said hospital boards were not going to be used as a means of bringing the Government’s scheme into effect. “I am afraid the Minister is becoming somewhat timid about the scheme. We, as a board, will not allow ourselves to be used to legislate for the Dominion.” he added. As business men they should carry on with out-patient treatment on the same lines till the Government declared its proposals. His idea was that consideration of hospital benefits should be deferred till the position was macle clear. "When the Government puts its cards on the table and tells us what it is going to pay for patients, we shall know what to do,” said Mr. G. T. Parvin.

A plea for co-operation was made by Mrs. Dreaver and Dr. Hastings. The chairman said the Hospital Boards’ Association had a meeting three weeks ago to discuss the matter but the Minister did not wait for the conference, but went off to some function in the south. Mr. Moody said he had later received a call to go to Wellington. but he had not complied with it.

“I am not at the beck and call of any Minister of the Crown. If the Minister wants to see me he can come to Auckland,” the chairman said. He had written to the association expressing hope that it would not be used as an instrument to bring the scheme into effect. “I only hope the executive has the intelligence not to be lured into a trap.” * The Rev. W. C. Wood said the department had no justification for acting in this way. It had had years to prepare the regulations. "It is absurd to ask the board to bury its head in a bag." he added.

“FATE OF SCHEME SEALED.” B.M.A. PRESIDENT'S VIEW. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WANGANUI, March 10. “In spite of the Minister’s optimistic statement, we know the fate of the Government's universal medical practitioner scheme is sealed,” said Dr. Alexander Wilson, Wanganui, president of the New Zealand branch of the 8.M.A., when replying to a statement by the Minister of Health, Mr. Nordmeyer, on Saturday. The Minister said that medical men were signing the medical benefit cards, but did not wish their names published. He promised an early statement on the position.