HOSPITAL WORK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 194, 17 August 1936, Page 8

HOSPITAL WORK.

'WONDERFUL SERVICE.' AUSTRALIAN PROGRESS. AUCKLANDER IMPRESSED. Impressed by the efficient administration of hospitals in Australia, Mr. John Waddell, a member of the Auckland Hospital Board, returned to Auckland by the Aorangi from Sydney this morning after a seven weeks' tour of Xew South Wales, Queensland and Vicljria. "I have learned a lot," said Mr. Waddell. "'I have realised that the Australian organisation and administration is a long way ahead of ours. There is only one respect in which the Auckland Hospital is tetter than those I saw in Australia, and that is in the nursing and cooking staffs. The Australian hospitals have better appliances and better co-operation. Co-ordination here is lacking. Australia's operating theatres and equipment are much better than ours." Hospitals in Sydney, Brisbane, Newcastle and Melbourne were visited by Mr. Waddell, who discussed administration with Dr. Cumpston, Federal Director-General of Health, and other officials. He visited the serum laboratory, the radiologists' school, and the dietitians' school at Melbourne. "Nearly all the people I interviewed were in favour of a recovery hospital such as that advocated by Dr. Gunson here," said Mr. Waddell. "Newcastle has one already, and Brisbane is now building one. Hospitals and clinics are established wherever they are needed in Australia, and the service to the people is wonderful. I am satisfied that we are not giving the people here the service we should." Then Mr. Waddell revealed that money for hospitals in New South Wales was raised by lotteries. Last week the 359 th New South Wales State lottery was drawn. For every lottery 500,000 tickets at 5/3 each were sold, and the funds, apart from working expenses, were devoted to the hospitals. The fund was administered by the New South Wales State Government. "Hospital boards over there do not have the power to rate as we do." concluded Mr. Waddell. "Hospital building is going on all the time, and as soon as one is completed it is handed over free of charge to the hospital board concerned."