HOSPITALS AND NURSES

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 55, 14 September 1928, Page 8

HOSPITALS AND NURSES

Little progress was made by the deputation which interviewed the Minister of Health regarding .hospital costs. The Minister rejected, at least for the time being, -the requests for direct rating or local body representation. The 'argument for direct rating is not strong. It would certainly involve heavy additional expense, and its value is doubtful. On the other hand, there is a possibility of achieving something by altering the method of electing hospital boards. Election by direct vote of the people is desirable when the public interest in the work of a local authority is sufficiently keen and continuous to ensure that the voters are acquainted with the qualifications of members. Tlicro is not this keenness or continuity of interest in hospital affairs. In Wellington, we venture to say, tho average elector could not even name half of the members, far less offer an opinion on their' work. If the boards were elected by the local contributory authorities, there would be a prospect, at least, of the electing authority making a better choice. The difficulty mentioned by the Minister of tho multiplicity of contributory authorities could be overcome, as it is now, by grouping. The Minister's reply denied charges of extravagance. We arc not prepared to support such, charges, but we do say that there has been increased expenditure, and one reason for it is tho greater proportion of people (stated by one speaker to have risen from 2i to 53 in 1000) now treated in the hospitals. The hospitals are not now institutions for the poor and needy; a half-and-half system is maintained, under which a greater charge falls upon the ratepayers., Yet many of these ratepayers cannot conscientiously accept hospital benefits themselves. • The change has, moreover, revealed certain anomalies with great clearness. Two of these which urgently demand attention are: , honorary medical service and the hours of nurses. While people who can afford to pay are admitted at less than the full costs, it is inexcusable to deny the nurses reasonable working conditions on the scoro of expense. The ratepayers do not desire such economy. Moreover, wo doubt very much if it is an eeouomy. It would be interesting to have a complete return showing the cost of long hours in sickness, breakdowns, resignations before training is complct.ed, and frequent staff changes. The medical profession continues to sanction honorary service, but the time is coming when the profession will object if its requests for the more equitable community hospital system are hindered by the suggestion that it will lead to class distinctions.