HOSPITAL CONTROL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 226, 17 June 1908, Page 7

HOSPITAL CONTROL.

WORK OF THE CONFERENCE. COMMENTS BY WELLINGTON DELE- ■ CATES. THE QUESTION OF FEES. At yesterday's meeting of the Wellington Hospital Trustees some references wero mado to the lato Conference on Hospitals and Charitable Aid. v Mr. R. C. Kirlr, who attended tho Confor«nco a 9 the delegato of another body, com' plirhented the Chairman (Hon. O. M. Luke, M.L.C.) and Mr. G. London, who represented the Trustees, on the assiduity with which they attended the sittings and assisted in tho deliberations. In regard to tho constitution of Hospital Boards he differed from the Chairman of the Trustees, but a largo majority of the Conference favoured tho existing system. He believed tho help of the Wellington delegates was of great valuo. to the Conference, and some of their remits wero adopted'in toto. • Mr. G.'London alluded to Dr. Valintine's remarks as to the need for closer supervision, on. the part of hospital authorities in regard to persons who came to the hospitals, although they could afford to pay for treatment outsido. Personally, ho thought mind the case of a young man, who could afford to pay more than was demanded there, but who could not afford to pay the fees i that were charged-outside. Ho had in mind the ease of a young man, who cou'd have been treated at the Hospital for a payment of £3 155., but he was charged £50 by an . outsido doctor, and he could not afford to pay it. Whilst agreeing that hospitals wore primarily charitable institutions, he was disposed to think that, as they wore contributed to by all

and "contained appliances that were not available outside, it would be cruel to refuse admission simply because people could afford to pay for medical attendance. • .Thero were people, who could afford to pay the highest possible fees, but could not obtain the best "* treatment, because the special appliances of the Hospital wore, not available outside. ■ Mr. London submijt-ed that supariito institu tions were eloquently vindicated by the work the Trustees had undertaken, and he did not 'believe that any local govorning body could give so much time and attention to the work as the Trustees had done. He admitted that thero was a good deal yet to bo' done, but that was an additional reason why the work should not bo imposed , upon men who were already overworked. ' Mr. F. G. Bolton, while, agreeing with much:that Mr. London had said, differed from him on one or two things. . Hospitals wore primarily for those who could not afford to pay for other treatment, and he thought the Wellington Hospital was not largo enough to admit those other intermediate cases on behalf of which Mr London had spoken. While agroeing that tite Wellington Hospital was well managed as a. soparato institution, ho did not see that that was sufficient to justify the system Other separate institution? might bo badly managed. He had noticed that all tho'large governing bodies represented at tho Conference voted for the principle of bringing tho separate in-, stitutions under the control of tho District Boards. As a- representative of the Benevo-lent-Trustees, he voted against tho separate institutions.

The Chairman (Hon. C. M. Luke, M.L.C.) said that, there might be a condition of things where- they should differentiate in regard to tho application of tho general principles adopted. > A board which clrew its mombers from City Councils and such bodies was nptjlikely to be able to give tho samo attention..to hospital-work/as.a body of separate trustees coiild do. He admitted that the Wellington Hospital Trustees had not been able to civO ( so much time to the work as they would liavo liked. Hospital work demanded experience and i somo special fitness, and thoso engaged in it grew enthusiastic. He was, however, 'pleased that the Conroronco had approved of a proposal that the management of soparate institutions might be carried on by committees, which need not consist entirely of mombers of tho board He . was aware that local bodies wero not * very ready, as a rule, to call in the aid of outsiders, but he hoped that, in this instance,tbey would seek tho co-operation of men specially interested in hospital work. Mr. J.jW. M'Ewan referred to Dr. Valintine s proposal to withdraw tho Government subsidy from charitahlo aid. He pointed out tliat.tne local bodies which paid money-for , charitable aid wero inclined to try to get as muclr of it sp&t in their own districts as possible. Trustee: Is that what -they do at Petoner N °- M'ss Kirk's ronort on charitablo aid at Petone was very satisfac- - The Chairman also spoke of the -visit of many of tho Conference delegates to tho Wellington Hospital, and. stated that sevoral ot them had expressed to him, either per?F in rating,' their warm admiration, of the equipment and management of jne institution.