EFFECT OF CRITICISM

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 103, 4 May 1931, Page 10

EFFECT OF CRITICISM

HOSPITAL COSTS REDUCED

MORE TO BE DONE

Quoting his first published criticism of Hospital administration, Dr. E. Campbell Begg, hospital candidate for tho Civic League and the Ratepayers' Association, shows in the following statement that, while botli tho Government and the Hospital Board have taken action on the linos he suggested, there is still much to bo done. "In an article published in the 'Evening Post' of 10th September, 1930," says Dr. Bcgg, "I quoted figures to show that by increasing the efficiency of the hospitals throughout New Zealand and bringing the general medical and surgical cases down to the moderate level of a fifteen days average stay per patient, a saving estimated on a conservative basis of £174,000 per year could be effected. It is significant in view, of the outcry made by some boards at the timo that the Health Department has now decreed that the expenditure must be reduced by £ISO,OOO. As the Department, I believe, anticipates that £70,000 of this saving will bo in the reduction of salaries, a , factor which was not considered in making up the figures I gave, it will bo seen that there is still room for reduction on the score of maintenance, apart from tho large amount that can even now be saved by a revision of the general hospital distribution in the country. The Health Department, even at such a time as this, would not enforce such drastic economies unless it knew that service could bo still properly maintained. Tha turn, of events has amply justified the criticism made in September. I

SOMETHING ACCOMPLISHED,

"Again, some members of the Wellington Hospital Board about the same timo expressed the opinion that the criticism and tho critic should be ig; nored. After it was pointed out that a saving of four days in the average patient's stay would not only free a largo amount of space, but would save £.19,000 a year, the board receded from the position -it had taken up and the superintendent brought down a series of proposals for the discussion of tho staff. These proposals aimed at better organisation which would prevent work being done in the in-patient department that could be done in the out-patients', and which would secure more rapid investigation and treatment of patients generally. As a result, the superintendent was able to report that many cases were handled in' the out-patient department who would under the old system have boon admitted, and that tiiere was also some improvement in tho average length of stay of general as distinct from chronic cases. More important still, the maintenance cost of the Hospital had decreased by £3700. Apart from criticism supported by statistics, these results would not have been brought about. ■ So little had the lesson been learned, however, that only a few months ago the board decided to raise a loan of £22,500 —the greater part of which was to have been used to add to Victoria Ward, thus violating the central building policy— and to build a new mortuary which was by no means an urgent work. Fortunately, under pressure, this resolution was not given effect to, but it is significant that only a few months after it was carried we find the board compelled to make drastic reductions in salaries of staff to keep withinthe allotment made by tho Health Department after due consideration of tho facts. I simply mention these facts to show that criticism which was so fiercely resented at tho time it was made has proved its justification in tho course of the short period of six months. < POLICY REPEATED. "The time for criticism has, however, not yet passed, for I believe that further progress towards saving and .efficiency can only be achieved by a change in organisation. We ask the public to believe that there is just .as much jusification for this as for. the former-critic-ism. Plain speaking is necessary to bring about reforms. If you elect us, and by us I mean all those .who are behind our policy, you know'that you are left in no doubt as to our intentions. Tho greater tho vote the greater the mandate to strengthen our hands when and if wo obtain seats on the board. "The policy was published in full m the 'Evening Post' of 3rd March of this year. I recapitulate the main points: (1) All meetings of board or committees to bo held in the late afternoon or evening; (2) a small hospital committeo to be formed, all medical members of the board to bo on it, and nono of its members to serve on.any other standing committee; (3) co-opting of. experts on special committees to investigate the different administrative departments to eliminate all avoidable expenditure; (4) the regrouping of the medical departments; (v) the "appointment of a responsible head for each department or group; (6) tho formation of an advisory medical board; (7) the extension of the powers of tho superintendent and restriction of his functions to that of executive officer; (8) no new building except as part of a considered scheme for the future; (9) readjustment of the method of assessing and collecting fees."'