Scheme for regional health authorities

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33478, 8 March 1974, Page 3

Scheme for regional health authorities

CN.Z. Press Association) ‘ GISBORNE, March 7. The medical profesi sion ,in New Zealand must prepare for the likely creation of regional health authorities to integrate all medical services in their areas, said the DirectorGeneral of Health (Dr H. J. H. Hiddlestone)

today. The Health Department would recommend to the caucus committee on health that these authorities be set up, Dr Hiddlestone said. The details would be up to the Government and would be published in a White - Paper in August, but he was confident that the basic ’ principle would be approved, - Dr Hiddlestone told the an- ■ nual conference of the Medil cal Superintendents’ Associa- ; tion. ALL-EMBRACING , “We would like to see the country divided into 14 pr 15 ( regional health authorities , serving a minimum popula- ’ tion of around 100,000 and a 1 maximum of 450,000.” This would be something ’ totally new and would cover all aspects of health services. 1 “ We must break down the

rigid barriers between hospital care, conlmunity care, public health, preventive medicine, and health education.” ' It was envisaged that the I main administration would > be done by a quartet of the ’ chief medical superintendent, chief nursing officer, board ' secretary, and the medical I officer of health. ■ “But these are very much (preliminary thoughts and may be changed considerably ’ before the authorities come into effect,” Dr Hiddlestone

said. 13 MEMBERS The department had sugi gested that the authority i have 13 members, seven elected on a ward system and

the other six to be appointed from all sections of the community. “We hope that the chairman would receive a substantial salary as would the managing-director of a large firm, particularly as the chairman might have to devote something like 50 per cent of his time to the authority.” The scheme would need considerable modification before it was put into effect, and it would need a great deal of thought from mem-

bers of the medical services. It would also result in some people having a much broader role as the authorities would cover all aspects I of the medical profession. However, hospital boards would probably, remain as they were now, and would not conflict with the regional authorities, said Dr Hiddlestone.