HOSPITAL CONFERENCE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 280, 19 August 1908, Page 9

HOSPITAL CONFERENCE.

' \ t- . QUESTION' OF FEES. i.Eaiurn.—srr.cui, couuespondeht.) . New Plymouth, August 18. 1. important conference held at Hawera •w-of delegates from tho New Plymouth, 1 and Stratford Hospital Boards, dis- ? ! matters principally coiicernalleged'abuse of the hospital system e of means. The medical supermen the three hospitals had mot, and imitted' ' recommendations including ie effcct that any patients'able to :dinary .fees for private attendance, se condition of health, or conditions :-an financial, make it desirable that he'be admitted'to a public hospital,, urged full-cost of maintenance in tho' ,tal, and that the medical man 'attendsuch patient be empowered to charge his j as arranged between the two contracting :ties. The Conference deleted all referto to doctors charging fees, holding that at would lead to dual control which would itimately bring disaster. - The Conference unanimously resolved .midst some enthusiasm That, having t l ': yicw tho fact that every member of tbo immunity contributes directly or indirectly <r both,-to the erection and maintenance of public hospitals, this Conference affirms tho •principle that any. pefson is entitled 1 to claim admission to such hospitals for treatment; as a matter of right and not of privilege or charity." Tho resolution was prompted by tho frequent use of the words charity * and "charitable aid" by memoersof ' the medical'staffs who addressed tho Conference. Dr. Valintine,- 'Inspector-General of Hospitals, was present. rtXEGBAPB— FIIESS ASSOCIATION.) Ai 'ii. : 'rr -1 ,•'« H" wera » Au SUSt 18. ' At; tho Hospital Conference to-day it was resolved:—"That the Conference approves that patients',from one hospital district desirous of being treated in the hospital of another district shall ho admitted to such hospital oh,; iho recommendation of tho board of such hospital district; that the Conference.'approves of tho principle that as far_ as possiblq. patients should to treated in,the hospitals in their separate districts; that, the delegates recommend to their boards a new;scale of charges, to be 6s. per diom for local patients, and 7s. for those from outside; districts."