MINISTER'S PLAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 191, 15 August 1933, Page 7

MINISTER'S PLAN.

PAPAROA HOSPITAL-

LEASE TO TRAINED NURSE.

SUBSIDY FROM GOVERNMENT.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) * PAPAROA, this day. The Hon. J. A. Young, Minister of Health, visited the district yesterday and was met at the council .chambers by Messrs. R. Coates and J. S. Davidson, members of the council, M. Skelton and W. Collins, Otamatea members .on the Kaipara Hospital Board, and office bearers of the Paparoa Methodist Church in connection with the recent decision of the Kaipara Hospital Board to close the Nurse Cavell Memorial Hospital at Paparoa. The deputations, interviewed the Minister in support of the protests previously forwarded him by the Otamatea Council and ratepayers against the closing of the institution.

The Minister, while expressing sympathy with the settlers, pointed out that the ioes on working for the preceding 12 months was £818 and the percentage of occupied beds 3.8 out of 14. The record of the Te Kopuru Hospital was 21.7 occupied beds out of 45. The Minister thought that to endeavour to make up to the Otamatea ratepayers for the loss of their hospital by providing an ambulance service to Te Kopuru would be unworkable.

As an alternative plan, the Minister suggested inviting applications for the lease of the hospital at a nominal rental, the applicant to be a qualified nurse with maternity and general nursing certificates, who would act as matron, providing her own necessary help for running the hospital and 6utdoor work, .and collecting her own fees. To supplement her income, he suggested a grant of £200 in salary"and £200 for the treatment of indigent cases. The doctor would collect his own fees and would also be made an allowance for indigent cases. The Health Department and the hospital board would still have complete powers of supervision and control of the institution, which would remain a public hospital.

Mr. Young said this alternative plan of hospital management was in operation at Motueka, Eakaia, Huntly and elsewhere, and was working well.

The members of the deputations expressed themselves pleased with the Minister's prgposal.

Mr. Collins and other speakers raised the point that the only drawback would be that no subsidy would be provided, for the doctor, wlioee fees for attendance would have to be an additional charge on patients. The Minister indicated that this might be further considered.