Govt studying scheme for private hospitals

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33773, 20 February 1975, Page 2

Govt studying scheme for private hospitals

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON. February 19.

The Government is considering a scheme which would admit patients to private hospitals by arrangement with public hospital boards, says the Minister of Health (Mr McGuigan).

Mr McGuigan said today that he agreed with the Private Hospitals’ Association that efforts should be made to coordinate the activities of public and private hospitals.

In his statement, the Minister did not elaborate on the scheme to admit public patients to approved private hospitals .but attacked the association. The association's opposition to the Government White Paper on the health services revealed "an exceptionally self-centred approach.” he said. ‘PART TO PLAY' Commenting on a report from the association, published earlier this week, the

Minister said the association disagreed with the Government on the need to improve public hospitals to make their services readily available to all, when it insisted on seeing the White Paper primar lily as a threat to its own member institutions. The association was over- | looking the fact that the Minister was on record as agreeing the private hospital sysi tern had a part to play in providing health care. ; The Government recognised that there should be a [freedom of choice, but it [wanted to ensure that freedom of choice was the only reason for using private services. •MISLEADING’ . Mr McGuigan said that some of the figures quoted by I the association could be misI leading.

Official figures showed that private hospitals provided 13 per cent of all hospital beds, not 20 per cent as claimed by the association. Private hospitals were said to perform 30 per cent of surgical operations, but there was no explanation as to the nature of these operations, said Mr McGuigan. Figures on medical insurance were also misleading. They showed that public hospital care was not as available as it should be — they did not show that there was a preference for private care.

As well, insurance was not available to many old people who often needed prolonged and expensive care.

If the public system were upgraded, the benefits would be passed on to private hospitals, said Mr McGuigan.