HOSPITAL CONTROL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 155, 12 April 1928, Page 4

HOSPITAL CONTROL.

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER. RESOLUTIONS OF THE CONFERENCE. vPer Press Association.) • :; WELLINGTON, April 11. A number of resolutions of the recent corrrerence of the College of Surgeons of Australia and New Zealand, were presented to the Minister - of Health, the Hon. J. A. Young; to-day by a deputation representing the New Zealand delegates. The spokesman, Sir Louis Barnett, said that surgeons after passing an examination should, serve a lengthy period of hospital apprenticeship under the supervision of a senior surgeon. The conference felt that surgeons would prefer to maintain the honorary system of treatment ior patients who could not afford to pay fees. He that it was desirable to have a system that would give younger surgeons of ability advance'. With reference to community hospitals the conference favoured a. system - under which all classes would be received for treatment,' replacing the' present unsatisfactory system of small private hospitals. They realised that ex- - j.ense was the stumbling* block but were striving for the ideal of commun-1 ity treatment. In the meantime it would be necesary to improve some of the private hospitals, he considered. Because the public hospitals had large laundries and other' special services which private hospitals lacked, the former could provide wards and services at a cheaper rate. In reply to a question from the Miniter, Sir Louis said that it was impossible to get awayi from the first and second-class accommodation in hospitals any more than on trains and steamers. ' . ; The Mnister said that such, division might bring about.a radical change in the attitude of the public towards the present system. There was nothing in the nature of pauperism in the present system and the public feared anything, of that sort. .'■ , Sr Louis read another resolution advocating the centralisation of the control of hospitals. The Minister, replying, said that the Department appreciated the aims and objects in raiding the standard of surgeons and would help in providing for ' young," promising surgeons. In regard to the present system of honorary services, all classes were.treated-alike andpatients were not asked to pay if they could not afford it. With regard to the centralisation of control it was a political question on which his Department took one view and Parliament another. Parliament had established the system of separate hospital districts. /Personally he thought that there were more hospitals than desirable for the most efficient administration of the medical services of the country. .He did not hold out much Tiope.for a central boarct as advocated. ■ -'