TREATMENT OF SICK,

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 197, 20 August 1919, Page 10

TREATMENT OF SICK,

THE OUT-DOOR SERVICE. DR. VALIXTIXE'S SUGGESTIOX. CONSIDERATION DEFERRED BY HOSPITAL BOARD. Tho suggestion of the Inspcetorfieneral of Hospitals, Dr. T. 11. A. Valintine, re the establishment of outdoor services for the treatment of the sick in any part of a hospital district, was fully reviewed in a letter to the Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board which wae read at the ordinary meeting of thnt authority last evening. Consideration was deferred for a special meeting to discuss the matter, to be held on Tuesday evening next. The letter states that in the past the energies of Hospital Boards have in the main been contined to providing institutions for the accommodation and treatment of the sick of their respective districts. In tliu opinion of the Minister the time had come when the operations of Hospital Boards could with advantage be extended outside, so to speak, the walls of their institutions, and outdoor medical services established so that Hoards could make arrangements for the treatment of the sick in any part of the hospital district. Experience gained during the recent epidemic showed the necessity for a clinical medical service throughout the Dominion, associated with the l'ublio Health Department, on which the Hospital Hoards and the Department could rely in case of emergency. But for the fact that a large proportion of t lie medical profession had been mobilised for military duty this need for a reliable outdoor medical service would have been greatly emphasised. Again, nothing comprehensive could be done as regards preventable diseases until there wan associated with the Department a reliable clinical medical service. It was well known that many of the patients admitted to our hospital* and other institutions were suffering -from what were known as preventable diseases, i.e., diseases or complaints which could have been prevented had the patient received timely warning from a medical practitioner. Under the present medical service of the country such timely warnimrs could not in many cases be" accomplished, hnt with an outdoor medical service much might be done, especially as regards the prevention of tuberculosis and other preventable diseases. In this connection he pointed out that provision whs made under sections .'!.'J and li.S ( >f the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act for the establishment by Hospital Hoards of outdoor medical and nursing services.

Section 33 of the Act referred to reads as follows:--"A Board may from time- to time appoint a secretary" t<. the BoaVtf; a. Cr£a*irrer to the. Board, and such.medical aaa other officers, matrons, nurses, attendants, and servants as it thinks required to assist in Mie management of any institution under the control of the Board or otherwise in the execution of this Act.' ,

Section 03 —d) '-Jt shall he the duty of every Hospital and Charitable Aid Board toprqyide and at all times tom,«4jjtain swh .hospitakvaud to make sucK oTJier provision as the InspectorGeneral from time to time considers requisite in any part of the hospital district.''

An outside medical service would entail, the letter proceeded, the appointment by Hospital Hoards of such medi-<-al officers as mifjht be considered neee-sary for the effective service of a hospital district. It was suggested that these medical officers should, in the first place, be attached to the hospitals as assistant sur<reoas for out-patient**, and .gradually the scheme could be extended. The. primary object was to provide a medicjl service for tho*e persons who were not able to pay the ordinary fees for medical attendance, nnd who therefore lose health to the detriment of the State. The services of these doctors would also be available for the community in of epidemics, and, an already stated, for conducting- a campaign against disease* Ji* preventable. It was estimated that the cost, considering the advantages to be derived therefrom, would not be great. The medical sen ice would be free only in necessitous cases. Kor this new service the Minister would he prepared t<) p.iy a subsidy of J£ lor j;. it was not intended to put the Hospital medical practitioners under this scheme into competition with the medical profession, but to utilise it as a means of conserving the public health by providing advice and treatment for those who otherwise would no* obtain them. In the meantime, he' would be glad if the Board would carefully consider this proposal, and forward itts views thereon with a view to it belli"' placed on a. definite r.asis ami brought into effect. Suggestions might Ik> forwarded as to the number of medical practitioners ajid nurses it would he necc-ssiu-y to appoint to make an effective outdoor medical rterviee in thw district. The appointment of district nurses, it might l>e added, was an essential part of the scheme.