"PATIENTS FIRST."

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 136, 10 June 1932, Page 5

"PATIENTS FIRST."

HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION. PROPOSAL FOR AMALGAMATION. WELLINGTON, Thursday. At the opening of the conference of the Hospital BoarcW Association to-day Mr. W. Wallace, of Auckland, in his presidential address, said the main concern of the conference was to bring about further economies without impairing efficiency. Th.e slogan must be, "Patients first." One clid not want to eiToiD economies at the expense of the sick and needy. He believed if the amalgamation of boards could be Drought about by negotiation, then it was desirable to do so, but they should not have the thing forced upon them.

Mr. Wallace eaid it might be that the present system required amendment. For instance, under the Act as originally introduced, he was sure it was not the intention of the Legislature to place the burden of unemployment relief upon hospital boards.

No matter who paid, the Unemployment Board or the hospitals, the country could not allow men and women to Btarve. He had heard it eaid that the most effective way to deal witn a striker was to cut off his rations, but he did not subscribe to that. Women and children must be fed at all costs. Mr. Wallace said practically all boards had-spent "n the relief of unemployment more money than they had budgeted for. He would suggest later in the conference that a committee be set up to discuss the whole question with the Unemployment Board.

The Minister of Health, the Hon. J. A. Young, said hospital boards should have a say in the examination of unemployed men. He had informed the Minister of Employment that boards were willing to help in relieving unemployment, but boards would have to be repaid for what they did out of the Unemployment Fund or the Consolidated Fund.