PULLING TOGETHER

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 166, 10 April 1926, Page 9

PULLING TOGETHER

BUSINESS MEN AND PUBLIC HEALTH

Thcr; was a large attendance yesterday at the Chamber of Commerce luncheon, when Dr. M. S. MacEacbern delivered an address on various phases of the hospital system. He urged the business people of the community to support scientific research, and ’’eiter ated his reasons for advocating the addition of pay-wards in the hospitals That New Zealand possessed a lover infant mortality than anywhere els in the world was due to the organisation of preventive measures and to the hospitals. The death-rate was among the lowest, and that was due to the hospitals, the public health policy, good food, beautiful scenery, and fine, climate and no congestion in the cities. “But let us suppose,” continued the sneaker, “that vou can reduce the number of days’each patient remains in vour hospitals by one. . . . What would that saving mean to industry.. In our place we have been able to shorten bv from four to six days the average time the patients remain in the hospitals. ... A great economy is thus effected in the community in the matter of work days by hospitals and also a monetary saving to the community. I advise you to select a good famil'v doctor and be examined -or overhauled once or twice cyerv year Go carlv to vour doctor if y&i feel alarmed’at the state of your health. I believe even more in personal health than in public health, for the individuals make the community. lor the vear just ended, said Dr. MacEachcrn, the Wellington Hospital dealt with 7143 patients, not including Io.OUO outpatients. There could be no question but that the hospital saved the lives of 10 per cent, at least. As alife had been estimated to be worth £lOOO, the Wellington Hospital effected a saving to the community for last year amounting to £720,000, at a payment of £141.000 for the whole of the public hosp l ’ tals in the Wellington district. It had saved, therefore, in one year more monev than it would cost to put up the new buildings. What was wanted to-day, proceeded the speaker, were a true and early diagnosis, the best scientific treatment, and to get well as quickly as possible with the best assurance of permanent health. For those things the best board of trustees was required, a good superintendent, good staffing, and labour, and good equipment. They would onlv come with the co-operation of the business people of the community with the hospital authorities, and an insistence on seeing that they are attained. After touching upon the necessity for fewer hospital districts, the speaker said he would like to see the present hospitals dependent less on Government subsidies and more on voluntary subscriptions and effort. "Do not, ’ he said, "call on the ratepayers and the Government to do everything. Do something yourselves to fill in the chinks.”