DR. MACEACHERN'S VISIT

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 166, 10 April 1926, Page 8

DR. MACEACHERN'S VISIT

SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS HOSPITAL FUNDAMENTALS

A FAREWELL MESSAGE

Except that he has now to visit Auckland, for which city he left Wellington last night by the Limited express, Dr. Malcolm T. MacEachern, M.D., D.Sc., Associate Director American College of Surgeons and Director of Hospital Activities, has completed his tour of inspection of the hospitals of New Zealand. Before leaving Wellington he issued the following farewell message to the people of New Zealand. His message presents also a summary of the recommendations that will be embodied in detail in his report to the Minister of Health, and the New Zealand branch of . the British Medical Association. “In three or four more days Mrs. MacEachern and myself must say goodbye to this great Dominion of New Zealand, in which we have had a most pleasant and interesting sojourn. This we will not do without a measure of regret, for during that time the people of New Zealand have treated up most kindly and courteously. I do hope that when any of them cross the Pacific to America that we may be able to reciprocate; and I feel sure that after our experience here we will be able to do better than we have, perhaps, in the past. Mrs. MacEachern and I leave Auckland on Tuesday, and return to America on the R.M.S. Aorangi for Vancouver, 8.C., Canada, from which point I probably will start a tour across Canada. “Why I Came.” “My visit to New Zealand and Australia has been a most unselfish one so far as my organisation and myself personally are concerned. My services have been loaned by my Director-Gen-eral, Dr. Franklin H. Martin, one of the greatest leaders and organisers in the world to-day, and who directs that very large and altruistit body in America known as the American College of Surgeons—a 'great international organisation embracing North and South America, and having a carefully-select-ed membership, not only' from the countries of these two continents, but also from many other countries in the world, including a number of the leading surgeons from New Zealand. This organisation, international in every re"spect, of which Dr. Walter Chipman, of Montreal, an outstanding surgeon and leader of the Canadian medical profession, is president—has for its objectives:—l. The betterment of hospital administration and service to the patient. 2. The betterment of surgery and the practice of medicine generally. 3. The promotion of scientific research in clinical medicine. 4. The education of the public as to personal health and disease prevention. .“This organisation has adopted the principle that any efforts to improve health, hospitals, and prevent disease should know no international boundaries, for, after all, a life is a life anywhere and everywhere in the civilised world. »

“I therefore did not come here primarily in the interests of the Health Department or the hospitals boards of the Dominion, or the New Zealand branch of the Aledical Association, but solely in the interests of the patient and the to-be patient. “Once again I reiterate: tlie primary objective for every hospital, ‘service to the patient’—the common objective, or perspective, or focusing point for all services within and without the hospital. New Zealand’s Position. “Aly investigations in New Zealand, assure me that the same spirit actuates the New Zealand Government, the Department of Health, the hospital boards (which are giving their time freely and gratuitously to a great cause), and the New Zealand branch of the British Aledical Association, part of the greatest medical association in the world—the British Aledical Association, with headquarters in England. Through the earnest co-operation of these three groups with the public will this attitude be maintained and bear fruit abundantly. “My six months’ absence from any office’means considerable inconvenience to my organisation, a great deal of expense, and a much heavier load for a while at least after I return, but that •is all worth while many times over if my services have been of any value to’this great Dominion in keeping their present hospital system in a premier place, and to Victoria in helping them, work out their most admirable system" now in vogues, Tribute to Dr. Valintine. “Dr. Valintine, Director-General of Health,, has done a magnifient piece of work in founding tlie present system. lam sure that the suggested adjustments that were so well received the other day at the joint conference will tend to even improve the present system ; and in this I hope he will have the utmost co-operation of all directly or indirectly interested in these institutions. ■ “The Dominion hospitals, I hope, will continue to receive much benefit from the knowledge gained and imparted through the interchange of international viewpoints by representatives from this country going abroad to England, America, and elsewhere to study hospital policy and problems, as well as by having visitors from abroad going over the system and conferring with them. Functions of Hospitals. ’“After all, fundamentally hospital work is much the same the world over, and though institutions are differently constructed, organised, managed, and financed in various ways, they all have four common fundamental ’ functions which they must exercise in the most intelligent manner. These functions arc: —‘(l) The right care of the sick; (2) the education of doctors, nurses, hospital personnel, and the public generallv as to disease prevention; (3) the promotion, of public, or, as I like to express it ’better, personal health; (4) the developing and promoting of scientific research in medicine. Public Must Co-operate. "May I appeal to the citizens of the Dominion to take a deep community pride and interest in their fine hospitals and co-operate to the fullest extent with the Department of Health and the hospital boards in coping with the main problems which face the system at present, namely:—l. Too many hospital boards. 2. Lack of uniform’ method of staffing of hospitals; embracing as many as possible of the practising phvsicians in the communitv. 3. The’ early establishment of the communitv hospital system, catering to all sections of the commnnitv through tlie offering of different types of accommodation, with greater charges therefor, but a common service to all. Tribute to the Press. e "I would be it miss in my duties if

I failed to state that through . the spontaneous activities of tlie Dominion of New Zealand, great assistance was rendered to me in my work through the fine publicity given in every place I visited. Without any desire to flatter the Press of New Zealand, I must say that its interest and enthusiasm in hospital and health matters are unexcelled. This was clearly demonstrated in the most intelligent, comprehensive, logical reports issued from time to time. A Press of this kind is of great advantage to any nation. New Zealand's Beauty. “Finally, I cannot let the occasion pass without referring again to the most beautiful and entrancing scenery of this country. It has been a great delight to see this as we went from place to place. There is, as I have said before, a measure of regret to the visitor, insomuch that he cannot look at it long enough, take it with him, or come back and see it often enough. Nobodv should die if possible without seeing this great Dominion and enjoy the mountains, the valleys, the rivers, the lakes, the caves, the thermal regions, and a long list of other interesting features which I have not time to mention. "Above all, however, the greatest enjoyment comes from meeting great people with high ideals, pride in their country, loyal and natriotic to the last degree, and courteous and kind to the visitor within their Dominion. “To the country, its people, and particularly its hospital and health service, I extend the sincerest well wishes of the American College of Surgeons and allied organisations in America, and my own personal well wishes.”