OUR HOSPITALS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 80, 6 April 1926, Page 4

OUR HOSPITALS.

FOUR FACTORS FOR SUCCESS.

CO-OPERATION EMPHASISED.

DR. MacEACHERN'S TOUR. ; -i

i 9 (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) \\

WELLINGTON, this day. \ Dr. M. T. MaeEaehern, associatedirector of the American College of Surgeons, has returned to Wellington: after his tour of the North Island, durin* which he inspected the hospitals in varS ou9 centres and conferred with hospital boards and members of the medical profession. Dr. MaeEaehern is now en« gaged in drawing up his report on tha hospital system of the Dominion, and coming as they do from a recognised authority on hospital his recommendations will be looked for* ward to with keen interest by all con» nected with the hospital system of thii country.

"I have just completed a trip through the Nortti Island," said Dr. MacEaehera when interviewed. "I found greafr interest and enthusiasm in regard to hospi. tal matters. Meetings of the British Medical Association, hospital boards and staffs of the hospitaJs were held at various centres, at which I gave illustrated lectures on hospital administration? and policy, stressing particularly - the principles of organisation, co-operation* co-ordination, efficiency, economy and service. Throughout most of the tour, I found the need of more co-operation between the boards and the voluntary medical staffs, and this was the subject of much deliberation in the various centres I visited. For the sxiccess of the Dominion's hospital system, the Department of Health, the hospital boards, the British Medical Association and tha honorary staffs must co-operate to tha maximum degree, as they are all working for the common purpose of service to the patient. If these four groups, with the public, co-operate in the hospital system of the Dominion it -will, I am sure, result in the greatest success.

"Throughout the entire tour," con* tinued Dr. MacEachern, "there was in. tense interest in the idea of the community hospital and it was the subject of spontaneous discussion at every turn, not only by the boards and the doctors, but also by those of the public with whom I came in contact. I found a great need throughout the country of more hospital publicity. The public meetings held during the tour showed distinctly that the public, and particularly the rate« payers, were extremely anxious to know more about what their hospitals should be and what their standard should be. This is something which could be carried on, particularly on National Hospital Day, 12th May, but also throughout the year by Press artfbles, lantern slide lectures, and other means. The Press of this Dominion ie only too anxious to get this enlightened information, and the confidence of the community and its pride and enthusiasm for the local hospital could thus be better aroused and fostered."

Dr. MacEachern will remain in Wellington till Friday, during which time he will be studying some of his findings preparatory to submitting a provisional verbal report to an important round-tlie-table conference on Wednesday of representatives of the Health Department, hospital boards and members of the British Medical Association.

Dr. MacEachern will also deliver a public address in the Town Hall on Wednesday evening. He will be officially entertained at dinner by the Health Department on Thursday, and will speak at a Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Friday, leaving for Auckland the same even* ing.

Dr. MacEachern will be a passenger by the Aorangi for Vancouver on the 13tl$ inst.