Reform ‘key to hospital efficiency’

Press, 23 October 1989, Page 7

Reform ‘key to hospital efficiency’

By

SARONA IOSEFA

Labour market reform in the hospital system would provide a more efficient patient turnover in hospitals, and a shorter waiting list for beds, says the Opposition health spokesman, Mr McKinnon. Mr McKinnon was addressing the Institute of Ambulance Officers’ conference in Christchurch on Saturday. Mr McKinnon said National would allow hospital management to play a more positive role in a new funding order.

“We will look at funding of hospitals to some extent by performance rather than collecting the cheques from the Area Health Board,” he said. At present only hospitals in Otago, Hamilton and Rotorua could give the total cost of each patient who had moved through a hospital. “The sooner that system is in place in all hospitals the better,” Mr McKinnon said. A National Government would “unshackle hospitals from 1950 s management structures” so they could respond to change.