COMMUNITY SYSTEM

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 80, 5 April 1926, Page 8

COMMUNITY SYSTEM

FOR HOSPITAL EFFICIENCY

INTEREST IN NORTH ISLAND

IMPOETANT CONFEEENCE TO

BE HELD,

Dr. M. T. MacEachern, Associate Director of the American College of Surgeons, returned to Wellington on Saturday, after a tour to the North Island, during which he inspected the hospitals in various centres and conferred with hospital boards and members of the medical profession. Dr. MacEachern is now engaged in drawing up his report on the hospital system of the Dominion, and coming as they do from a recognised authority on hospital administration his recommendations will be looked forward to with keen interest j by all connected with the hospital system of this country. "I have just completed a trip.' through the North Island," said Dr. MacEachern. "I found great interest and enthusiasm in regard to hospital matters. Meetings of the British Medical Association, hospital boards, and the staffs of hospitals were held at various centres, at which I gave illustrated lectures on hospital administration and policy, stressing particularly the principles of organisation, co-operation, co-ordination, efficiency, economy, and service. "Throughout most of the toi:>- I found the need of more co-operation between the boards and the voluntary medical staffs, and this was a subject of much deliberation in the various centres I visited. For the success of the Dominion hospital system, the Department of Health, the boards, the British Medical Association, and the honorary staffs must co-operate to a maximum dflgree, as they are ai working for the common purpose of service to the patient. If these four groups, with the public, co-operate in the hospital system of the Dominion, it will, I am sure, result in the greatest success. COMMUNITY HOSPITAL. "Throughout the entire tour, there was intense interest in the idea of the community hospital. It was a subject of spontaneous discussion at every turn, not only by the board and doctors, but also t>X the public with which L came in contact. I found a great need throughout the country of more hospital publicity. The public meetings held during the tour' showed distinctly that the public, and particularly the ratepayers, were extremely anxions to know more about what their hospital should be, and what the standard should be. This is something which could be carried on particularly on the national Hospital Day, 12th May, but also throughout the year, by Press articles, lantern slide lectures, and other means. The Press .of this Dominion is only too anxious to get this enlightened information. Confidence, community pride, and enthusiasm for the local hospital could thus be. better aroused and fostered." ■ . • '

Dr. MacEachern will remain in Wellington till Friday, during which time ho will be studying some of his findings preparatory to submitting a provisional verbal report to the important round-the-table conference on Wednesday, of representatives of the Health Department, hospital boards, and members ■of the British Medical Association. Dr. MacEachern will deliver a public address in the' Town Hall on Wednesday evening; he will be officially entertained at a dinner by the Health Department on Thursday. He speaks at the Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Friday, and leaves for Auckland the same evening. Dr. MacEachern will be a passenger by the Aorangi for Vancouver on the 13th irist.