PRIVATE WARDS IN HOSPITALS

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 78, 2 April 1928, Page 17

PRIVATE WARDS IN HOSPITALS

DEPARTMENTAL ATTITUDE,

"From time to time suggestions are made that ho&pital boards should provide private wards in their institutions for those willing to pay the higher fees necessary to meet the cost of such wards," states an appendix to the annual report of the Health Department. "In the past the Department has recognised the policy that the hospitals are maintained only for those unable to pay for private medical and nursing treatment, leaving it to a very great extent to the various boards themselves to apply such policy according to the particular needs and circumstances of each district. (An outlying district with *no adequate means for private medical or nursing service would, of course, admit anyone to its hospital.) The basic principle, however, has been that the beds are primarily for the needy. If, after the needs of the destitute are met, there are vacant beds, then those in better circumstances are granted admission. The establishment of private wards is strongly opposed in pome quarters on the grounds that it will promote class distinctions. The Department has never shown any antagonism to the proposal, recognising that, provided always private wards could be established without recourse to the pubW funds, more efficient treatment should result, even if there were no saving in cost to the patieut. The Department, in fact, -would be willing, when the time is opportune, to see one board at least try the experi? ment of a block of private wards."