HOSPITAL PROBLEMS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 34, 10 February 1939, Page 3

HOSPITAL PROBLEMS

SHORTAGE OF BEDS ADMINSTRATION COSTS HIGHER ( Per Press Association.J NEW PLYMOUTH, Feb. 9. ''Since our last conference drastic changes have been made in many directions as a result of which hospital boards have encountered many difficulties in altering the form of their management of hospitals,” said Mr. J. W. Dove, president of the New Zealand Hospital Boards' Association, at a conference of the association in New Plymouth. He mentioned the shortening of hours and the effect this had had in an increase in staffs and the inevitably higher cost of administration. When the executive interviewed the Minister of Health regarding hospital boards being accorded special consideration because of the nature of their work being entirely different from private enterprise, he expressed hearty concurrence, said M. Dove, anr as a result of the representations made to the executive of the Federation of Labour, this body recommended its respective organisations to accord hospital boards their sympathetic co-operation.

“A far greater problem,” said the president, “confronts us when we come to extend the same consideration to nursing staffs. At the moment it is an almost impossible task because if we are able to obtain the necessary numbers of nurses and trainees no accommodation would be available to house them, and it must involve boards in heavy capital expenditure, not to say what it will mean in increases of salary costs. Maintenance Charges “This all means further increases in maintenance charges and, as admission to hospital for all illnesses is steadily increasing, all boards, speci-

ally larger ones, are confronted with the necessity for increasing their bed accommodation. At present there is a shortage of at least 1500 beds. If the system of hospital finance is wron, then the electors should exercise their rights and return members to the legislature who will alter the system.

" “I would here like to sound a note o£ warning. From time to time suggestions are made that the greater proportion of hospital finance should be provided from Government funds; also that responsibility for the cost of certain types of treatment should be that of the Government. The cold fact is that without local financial responsibility there cannot be local control.” After an address by the Minister of Health, Hon. P. Fraser, several remits concerning the Social Security Act were withdrawn. Consideration of a Palmerston North remit asking that the conference appoint a special committee to represent hospital board interests to co-operate with the executive of the association and the Government to deal specially with matters concerning the introduction of the social security scheme was deferred.

Officers elected were: President, Mr. J. W. Dove (Dunedin); vice-jresi-dents, Messrs. L. B. Evans (Christchurch), J. Glover (Wellington); W. C. Wood (Auckland); executive committee, Messrs. Mclntyre, M.L.C., Mr. E. MacoDnald (Timaru), J. A. McKay (Whangarei). W. E. Broderick (Wanganui), and P. E. Stainton (Taranaki).