MODERN HOSPITALS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLI, Issue 9498, 23 April 1921, Page 3

MODERN HOSPITALS.

MEDICAL ASSOCIATION'S PROPOSALS.

PRIVATE WARD SYSTEM

Further evidence m regard to the Medical Association's proposal to have private paying wards attached to pub--ho general hospitals was taken by the Hospitals Commission yesterday Dr. W. Fox, Medical Superintendent of the Christchurch General Hospital s^d +hat he was quite m accord with tne proposals. The present system was a ward system— every patient was put into a ward — and always there was a proportion of patients who asked for a private ward. The result was that many people were shut off from facilities they desired, and were forced into the private nursing hospitals. Private hospitals seldom had room for people suffering from medical ailments, but they always found room for those suf-' fering from surgical ailments. Under the new proposal, medical cases would undoubtedly get hospital treatment. There would be special equipments at the general hospital, and persons who went into the private wards would have all the advantages those equipments supplied. The department would have to erect a private block at Christchurch to accommodate at least 100 patients ; he was sure that it always would be full. The best medical attendance available would be supplied at the private wards. Innovations were about to *be - made m connection with cooking and dieting at public hospitals. The proposal would help that movement. The cost of maintenance alone of each patient would be about £3 3s a week. The average fee at private hospitals m and near Christchurch was £6 6s a week. If the Hospital Board charged the same fee for private wards it would obtain a considerable sum from the private wards. The funds, he presumed, would be used to pay expenses and provide for a sinking fund, and the balance could be used for improving the private wards, for helping the free wards, or for reducing the rates.

In reply to the chairman (Mr Vernon Reed, M.P.), Dr. Fox said that he could not conceive that patients m free wards would resent people m paying wards receiving better facilities. People should be made to feel that m hospitals they were m private homes, not m institutions. The proposals would tend to elevate and improve the hospital system generally. All classes of cases, medical, surgical and maternity would be received m the private wards.

In reply to Mr G. Shirtcliffe, he said that it should be compulsory on hospital boards to erect private blocks for paying patients ; and patients able to pay should be compelled to take private wards. ' They would pay practically the same as patients paid m private nursing hospitals to-day ; they would, m addition, pay for their own doctors; and they would pay for special services and plants. They would not get hospital attendance and facilities for less than they would pay m private nursing hospitals, but everything would be better.

To Dr. H. T. D. Acland, Dr. Fox said that the Medical Association's plan would be particularly suitable to Christchurch. It had been unconsciously introduced by the North Canterbury Board, m a small way, at Kaikoura and Waiau.

A question was raised as to whether a board could refuse to take into its hospital a person who could pay, but. who refused to do so. Dr. T. H. A. Valintine, Director-General of Hospitals, said that under legal advice as to the effect of the Act,, he had informed all boards that they could not refuse any patient it there was room for him m the hospital. Mr W. S. Wharton, secretary, to the North Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, spoke m favour of the proposal. The fees, he said, would more than pay for the maintenance oi : the private wards. The bacteriological, x-ray, and physio-therapy departments at the Christchurch Hospital were regarded as community services, and were available to i ; ich and*poor m the district. Why should not the principle be applied to the wards of the hospital ?