HOSPITAL CONTROL

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 101, 2 May 1933, Page 6

HOSPITAL CONTROL

Much, greater interest than usual lias been taken in the election of llie Hospital Board. This is because the outgoing board initiated and partly curried out a thorough plan of reorganisation. In some quarters the reorganisation lias been misrepresented as economy at the expense of efficiency- A cry has,been raised: "The welfare of the patient must come first," as if this were not, in fact, the principle applied in the reorganisation. Voters must beware |of such cnichcries. The facts are that the reorganisation, initiated by Dr. Campbell Begg after thorough study of hospital practice abroad, was carried out by a special committee after painstaking investigation, and consultation with experts upon every- point. At no time was the interest of the patient overlooked, hut an endisavour was made to increase efficiency while eliminating all extravagance* waste, and unjustifiable expenditure. A board which controls a service provided by rates and taxes mupt take account of these things or it is failing in its duty. Those responsible for the reorganisation have done their duty, conscientiously and with conspicuous success. It. is wholly in the interests of the hospital, the people who use it, and the ratepayers who pay for it that they should be given a mandate to complete4heir task.