THE HOSPITALS.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18682, 4 May 1926, Page 8

THE HOSPITALS.

MINISTER AND B.M.A. DENIALS AND REJOINDER. (fBESS ASSOCUTIOH TBLEOS.VICB.) AUCKLAND, May 3. ''Misinterpretation of some innocent remarks of mine at Huntly has brought upon my head the seeming displeasure of some members of the British Medical Association," stated the Minister for Health, the Hon. J. A. Young, when speaking at the opening of the new homo for nurses at Aucklaud Infirmary yesterday. The Minister said he had made a statement at Huntly to the effect that his policy would be to preserve the control of the hospitals m the hands or the people who were responsible for arranging the furnace and tho organisation ol them. While he recognised and appreciated the great service rendered by doctors, he considered it would be a serious mistake if the control of hospitals were to pass into the hands of the medical profession. This brought a reply from the chairman of the council of the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association, Dr. H. E. Gibbs, asserting emphatically that neither individually nor collectively dm tho doctors desire to control the hospitals or their policy. Mr Young referred to a later attack on him Published in Auckland. This was in the form of an interview with an official of the British Medical Association, who alleged that the Minister had gone out of his way to offer the medical profession a gratuitous insult. With a laugh and a shrug, Mr Younrr said that his shoulders were broad enough to bear all the abuse and criticism thrown at him. As long as he knew he was on safe ground, and was doing the best thing in the interests of humanity. He would take all the criticisms, but he had made no attack at Huntly on the British Medical Association. He would always listen to and profit by argument and counsel of the medical profession, and he issued a plea that all interested in hospital administration should reason together instead of quarrelling.

Doctors Who Did Not Agree. Since the attacks on him, said the Minister, he had received sympathetic messages from members of the British Medical Association, disassociating themselves from the criticisms mentioned. Dr. E. H. president of the Auckland division of the British Medical Association, had stated, "officially I should like to say that in so far as our Association represents the medical profession in New Zealand, we as a profession recognise that the business and financial organisation and control of a public hospital are outside our province/' "There is one important matter for gratification in it all," commented Mr Young, "and that is, whatever my seeming indiscretion in the eyes of the British Medical Association may have been, it has caused that worthy body to assert that it has no designs on our well tried, representative institution, the hospital board." The hospital system in New Zealand, he continued, was a humanitarian institution. • It bad passed the stage of being regarded as a charity institution, and he wanted the medical profession to realise tnat that evolution had taken place. Those who could pay for hospital treatment w'ould be charged; those who could not would be allowed to go "scot free."

America as Example. America had been quoted as an example of hospital organisation, ■ but in .iiai country there was no provision for the middle class. Either a patient was reminded of his poverty, or he paid very dearly for what he got. Everyone had an equal right of entry to the hospitals in New Zealand. That principle had been upheld by the Royal Commission set up to hear the Bryce case. Mr Young said lie did not accuse all doctors of being actuated by personal motives in regard to the control of hospitals, but he could see the cloven hoof sticking out in some places. "Our Hospital Board system has been described as being politically controlled," said Mr Young. "It is public control by elective boards under departmental supervision and assistance. It is a true expression of our Democratic free institutions." There were able men in the Department, whose advice he valued, said Mr Young, and he declared that he would not be beyond seeking outßide assistance if that given by Departmental officers did not satisfy him. "The political control suggestion is all nonsense," Mr Young declared. It has been suggested by the British Medical Association, and he would probably have something more to say in this connexion this week. Mr Young said he stood for wellmanaged institutions, with entry for all at all times. 'He welcomed the advjoe of tho medical profession and others interested in hospital administration. Honorary and Stipendiary Staffs. lleferring briefly to ithe question of honorary staffs, the Minister said he was not going to interfere with Hospital Boards as to whether they should have honorary or stipendiary staffs. He had never attacked the honorary system. If a Board felt that it was better served with either one of the two systems, he was prepared to leave the question to the Board itself. He had been accused of not knowing his job, of being a sort of demagogue, Mr Young added, but he was prepared to accept all criticism provided it was fair. He felt confident that the misunderstanding with the British Medical Association would be set right. All must work in unison. If they were going to quarrel among themselves in a carping spirit, the hospitals must suffer. He issued a plea that all interested in the question should come and reason together, so that the best service could be given in the interests of. humanity.