MEDICAL SERVICE FOR THE POOR

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22104, 28 May 1937, Page 17

MEDICAL SERVICE FOR THE POOR

PLIGHT OF FAMILIES IN THE CITY NEED FOR IMPROVED FACILITIES Improvements in the medical services available to the poorer classes in the community—a suggestion made by the president of the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association, Dr, T. D. M. Stout—are, apart from the resulting benefit to the community, apparently urgently needed in the city. When inquiries were made at the Sydenham ancf Waltham schools, it was stated that, in spite of the admitted decline in the signs of poverty l , many families were attempting to live on' 15s a week (after the rent had been paid) and the children, among whom were cases of goitre, defective eyesight, defective hearing, and of general ill-health, could not be given treatment. While he admitted that any improvement or greater efficiency in the medical services could not fail to be beneficial. Mr T. Paterson, acting headmaster of the Sydenham school, deplored the ignorance that was shown in health matters by some of the poorer families and suggested that more attention could be given to preventive rather than curative medicine by the closer co-operation of the Education Department and Child Welfare offices, and by the regular inspection of houses to ascertain the financial and hygienic conditions. One 'or two houses which he had seen, he said, greatly needed improvement. He knew of no cases of hardship; but many of the parents required educating upon health questions. Agreeing that an improvement of the medical facilities available to the poorer classes would be very beneficial, Mr D. C. Brown, headmaster or the Waltham school, said that of the persons living in the district at least 15 per cent, were in straitened circumstances.

"I know that people living oi» sustenance could not possibly afford medical treatment, when it is needed, once they have paid for the bare necessaries of life," he said. "It i» quite true that there is apparently

less poverty than in previous years, but the signs are still painfully evident here, and I am prepared to say that quite a number of deserving persons in the district are attempting to treat in their own homes disabilities and possibly diseases which should have received medical examination. J agree with Mr Paterson that every house should be visited." The poor could at present obtain some treatment through their -lodgesHow far the proposed National Health Insurance scheme or the plan suggested by Dr. Stout would be adaptable to the means of the indigent classes, however, was not yet apparent. Mr Brown said, but there could be no question of the poorer people's needs. At the school many of the children were white-faced, low in weight, and obviously in need of attention; one child had suffered from goitre which had not been treated because of lack of money; and others needed their eyesight and hearing examined. Quite a number of the families, after paying rent, were trying to live on 15s a week.