SUCCESS ACHIEVED

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 45, 21 August 1925, Page 4

SUCCESS ACHIEVED

NEW ZEALAND HEALTH I DEPARTMENT !

An article in the journal "The Medical Officer," published in London, contains the following: interesting reference to.' the New Zealand public hospital system:— . ■ ■■ ■ "The appendix to the report on hospital and charitable aid issued by the Department of Health of the Government of New Zealand is full of matter of great interest to those in Great Britain who are concerned with hospital reform, for it gives some clear statements about the working of a hospital system lon lines-to somo extent comparaDle with what some of us wish. to see established in. the Mother Country. "The reputation of the Health Department of New Zealand stands high; it has been extraordinarily successful, and is admitted universally to be excellent. ' We therefore are inclined to listen with a favourable ear to all that the Dominion has to tell us, and eagerly grasp such a pamphlet as that, which we have before us to enlighten us in the most pressing matter before our own Health Department—hospital .accommodation. But we must not allow the success achieved by New Zealand to blind us to the advantages which that country possesses, but which are not-within our, reach. The need for efficient and sufficient accommodation and sound workable hospital ': policy is present equally m. New Zealand as.it is here; but it does not follow that the policies pursued should be identical, nor that the difficulties to be overcome \are the same cither in kind or in degree.' Wo therefore cannot look here or anywhere for a solution of our. troubles, but for experiences which may be of value in helping >us: to solve them. Those who are at present exercising, their .wits to evolve ft workable policy of hospital reform in this country should study this document carefully." . , ■After'summarising the report of the New Zealand Health Department, the London, medical journal says: "We believe there is - money in this ■ country to : .formulate and-maintain a definite and satisfactory hospital policy; that this money is not only here, but is actually ■spent, though much is lost in confusion of objective; and we believe the scheme outlined by the British Medical Association; though far from perfect, though requiring some pruning and much-polish-ing,l to be the only - scheme ' before us which would give us a hospital service as satisfactory as that of New Zealand —-not identical, but equally suitable, and more in accord with our traditions and temperament;"-- : ' ." .