HOSPITAL REFORM

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 32, 1 November 1932, Page 10

HOSPITAL REFORM

Bill Being Prepared REDUCTION IN BOARDS Measure for Parliament A Bill to ensure the better working of the hospital law of the Dominion will be introduced by the Government this session. It is understood that the Bill is mainly a machinery measure, but that, among a number of important proposals, it will contain a provision where by the number of hospital districts may be reduced if it is shown after full and proper Inquiry that such action is justified in the interests of efficiency and economy. It is known that the Minister of Health, Hon. J. A. Young, and the executive of the Hospital Boards’ Association have been in close conference recently regarding the making of certain amendments to the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act, and no doubt some of the recommendations of the National Expenditure Commission will also be 'incorporated in the measure. However, it is fairly safe to say that the commission’s proposal for the establishment of a Board of Hospitals will not be adopted. There are 45 hospital districts in the Dominion. Within the last year or two the number has been reduced by two owing to the merging of the Picton and Wairau Boards, and the reabsorption of the Matakaoa by the Cook district. Before any reduction in the number of districts can take place there must be a properly-conducted inquiry in the districts concerned, open to and under the eyes of the public. All parties interested would then be given an opportunity to state, their cases. Possibly the inquiry would be made by a magistrate or other suitable person, acting as a commissioner. After considering his recommendation it would be for the Government to take such action as it thought fit. From what can be gathered, it is unidcrstQod that the Bill proposes no interference with the constitution or representative nature of hospital boards.