DR. WELTON-HOGG ON HOSPITAL FINANCE

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 190, 10 May 1938, Page 18

DR. WELTON-HOGG ON HOSPITAL FINANCE

“Sound Finance And Adequate Service” “We are strongly opposed to the expenditure of £750,000 of, the ratepayers’ money, which will be increased to more than '£1,000,000 by the contemplated extra wing,” said Dr. R. Welton-Hogg, speaking at Alicetown last night. Dr. Welton-Hogg is associated with Mr. Grant Fargie as citizens’ candidate representing Hutt and Eastbourne on the Wellington Hospital Board. “We suggest that the whole scheme be reconsidered on the lines of decentralisation and provision for hospital facilities in the Hutt Valley, which lias an estimated population of nearly 50,000 people,” said Dr. Welton-Hogg. , “The community type of hospital which is in vogue in other parts of the world is the only means of reducing hospital board rates. In this type of hospital private wards are provided where the patient may have free choice of any doctor approved by the 8.M.A.. and fees will be collected on a lower scale than those charged by private hospitals. In many cases in England, the United States of America and Australia these hospitals are almost selfsupporting. They provide the auxiliary services of X-ray and laboratory investigation that private hospitals can seldom economically provide. They make provision for a large section of the community on whom the extra burden of providing extra hospital treatment to the masses falls very heavily and who, in the past, have had to budget for private hospital expenses when they themselves fell sick. “We are strongly opposed to any scheme such as the one outlined by the present hospital board unless, a different means of financing it is provided. The fact that the Wellington Hospital serves not only half tlie North Island, bnt a portion of the South Island should induce the Government to make an extra grant from the public funds and so lighten the ratepayers' burden. At present it is the contention of many of the honorary staff that the number of bods occupied in the Wellington Hospital could be greatly diminished by the establishment of convalescent homes, and- this would be economical. ‘‘lf yon honour me by electing me tn the board I pledge myself to sound finance and adequate services for this growing district.” “The Party Machine.” There was no prospect of Butt Valley getting adequate hospital services while the 'Wellington Hospital Board, was dominated by Labour representatives from Wellington, said Mr. J. W. Andrews. When there was a division of opinion among Labour representatives they were bound"to support the majority. This was evidenced in a crucial division at the hospital hoard when Mr. C. A. L. Treadwell moved an amendment that the £750.000 item for the grandiose building scheme be deleted from the schedule for the then next financial year. The vote was entirely on partv lines, and every member of the Labour Party voted against the amendment. Included were the Petone and Maknra County representatives, each of whom had previously opposed the scheme. The amendment had been lost by eight votes to seven. This wars the party machine. at work, and it appeared that two members had been disciplined.