HOSPITAL POLICY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 52, Issue 205, 11 June 1932, Page 3

HOSPITAL POLICY

DECISIONS OF THE CONFERENCE. PROVISION OF SMALLER WARDS. (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, June 10. The Hospital Boards' Conference adopted recommendations arising from the round-table conference of March, 1929, as follow: That all members of the community requiring treatment in hospital shail be eligible for admission to public hospitals. That patients in public hospitals who need, because of the nature of their illness, accommodation other than in the larger wards, shall be provided for by an adequate number of one- to four-bedded wards. That medical attendance on patients shall be in the hands of a visiting staff with the assistance of the requisite number of resident medical officers. That each hospital board may betermine the number of visiting staff, but that it •be recommended that in arriving at a decision the board shall, consistent with the convenience and smooth running of the institution, appoint as many of the medical practitioners residing in the district as possible. That in making appointments to the visiting staff, and in determining the suitability or otherwise of practitioners for the privilege of attendance on patients, the hospital board shall be guided by the advice of a special consultative body, or, in the case of the smaller hospital districts, by the advice' of the Director-General of Health. That the special consultative body shall comprise the consulting staff, if any, of the hospital, or, in other cases, the senior members of the medical profession of the district selected by the hospital board with the approval of the Director-General of Health. All patients shall be attended by the visiting medical staff in an honorary capacity.

REGROUPING OF DISTRICTS. REPORT BY A COMMITTEE. . WELLINGTON, June 10. The committee appointed by the Hospital Boards' Conference yesterday in connection with the Wellington Board's proposals in respect to alterations in the existing hospital system, to-day brought forward a report. The-report, as adopted, read:— "That the hospital districts of New Zealand be re-grouped in such a way that every group contain within its bounds an adequate base hospital. For the purpose of the establishment of such base hospitals, it is considered essential that there should be an adequate number: of resident medical men in the centre of population selected, to provide the necessary staff. Also that it is desirable that all hospitals should be regraded according to the available facilities in each hospital, the conference to advise the Health Department to endeavour to institute a system of grouping of hospital boards in order to achieve better co-ordination."