CONFLICTING SERVICES

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 95, 23 April 1931, Page 13

CONFLICTING SERVICES

MEDICAL AND SOCIAL

The absurdity of combining hospital control and social servico was emphasised by Dr. E. Campbell Begg at Nowtown last night. The attempt to cut down hospital* expenditure was nullified because the same authority was faced with large demands for relief. The sum allotted in the estimates of the local hospital for this-purpose was £45,000, and it. might not prove enough, but it was ■ one-third of the estimate of the levy and subsidy of the hospital with which it had nothing to do, and clouded the issue of the cost to the ratepayer of the hospital itself. The only plea for these two activities being combined was that the machinery of social service could be used to ascertain which patients in' the hospital were proper subjects for public assistance. This might have more force if the hospitals existed for purely indigent cases, such as the Poor Law hospitals in England. "Under present^ circumstances, whore elaborate and intricate treatment of all kinds was required, and as the law existed at present,' all classes must bo provided' for, the combined system was qxposeil in all its absurdity. "If you think-that somo of us have special qualifications for. the work of a hospjtal committee,, and elect us for that" purpose, you cannot by your votes prevent the most suitable men for the Hospital Committee being placed on tho Social Service Committee, where their services' are wasted and could probably be better fulfilled by others," said Dr. Begg. "I would advocate without tho slightest hesitation that evon. now and with the present Parliament a . Bill be introduced to separate the,1 two services. It is a matter of urgent need.."