Country Hospitals

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31114, 18 July 1966, Page 10

Country Hospitals

Sir, —Doctor Averill’s appeal for assistance from the women of Cheviot to staff their hospital is commendable, but should it be necessary? In 1959 the Government appointed a committee to look into medical matters; and I would like to ask the Minister of Health why the Government did not act on some of the recommendations tabled in the report of 1963. If country hospitals close our most valuable doctors will leave. With the Government pressing for higher production from the land, the shortage of farm labour will only be accentuated by the loss of our hospitals. Wages are high for country nursing and I cannot see why it should not be part of their training to do at least six months in our country hospitals. If it is lack of finance that causes country hospitals to close then I suggest at least Is be charged on all "free” prescriptions that clutter up the average medical cupboard.— Yours, etc., A. B. ANDERSON. Claverley, July 8, 1966. [The Minister of Health (Mr McKay) replies: “The question of staffing of the Cheviot Hospital is essentially a matter for the North Canterbury Hospital Board. However, I understand that what prompted Dr. Averill’s appeal was the non-availability at that time of trained staff to relieve the matron. It is understood that this difficulty has now been resolved. It might also be mentioned that this small hospital has a very low bed occupancy—37 births last year, which was 10 less than for the previous year. If the hospital could be assured of a greater measure of support from the district which it serves, it is reasonable to assume that recruitment of trained nursing staff would be facilitated.”]