HOSPITAL CONTROL

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 52, 30 August 1934, Page 14

HOSPITAL CONTROL

MODERN ADVANCE

VICTORIAN SYSTEM

Dr. Albert H. Thorne, superintendent of the Bondigo Hospital, was a passenger by tho Wanganella, which arrived .from Sydney yesterday. Dr. Thorne, who is regarded in Victoria as an authority on hospital administration, visited New Zealand last year with a large party of Victorian warmers who toured the Dominion, partly on holiday and also to study New Zealand methods of agriculture. During his present visit Dr. Thoruo has inspected the Wellington Hospital, which has recently carried out reforms to some extent on the lines adopted at the Bondigo' Hospital. Yesterday ho met a committee of the board and discussed matters relating to hospital administration. Dr. Thorno has been medical superintendent of tho Bendigo Hospital for the past six years.

In reply to inquiries made by "Tho Post," Dr. Thorne gave some interesting particulars in regard to the Victorian hospital system, including advances which havo been made in accordance with modern hospital practice in' other countries.

"Tho Victorian hospital system," ho said, '"is definitely established on tho voluntary principle. The whole system is regulated by tho Charities Board of Victoria. Through this body tho Government gives a grant of approximately one-fourth of tho maintenance expenditure for the year, together with special assistanco at times for buildings. Tho rest of the money required for maintenance is raised by voluntary subscriptions and payment by, or on account of, patients.

"There is no special hospital rate, tax, or levy, and the local bodies or municipalities have no responsibility in hospital finance, except for infectious diseases. Buildings up till recently have been financed by special appeals, which in the past were subsidised by Government grants. At the present time now buildings are being constructed on special Government loan money provided from unemployment taxation and moneys Taised to provide work for unemployed.

"Patients in the hospitals are classified into indigent, part-paying, and intermediate. Intermediate patients are all those patients who are in such a financial condition as to be able to pay threo guineas per week for their nursing in hospital, plus, a fee for medical attention. Except for first aid in emergencies, it is obligatory on all patients to sign a declaration of inability to pay full hospital fees, or to become intermediate patients automatically. Tho honorary doctors are thus assured that their services given to tho hospitals are only availed of by those who cannot pay. .

"At the. present time tho. Bendigo Base Hospital, which is tho largest in Victoria outside 'the Melbourno institutions, is erecting a 43-bcd intermediate block. This, completely furnished, with its own theatre, maternity department, and other accessories, will cost £38,000. '• . ' .

"Contributory schemes whereby people of moderate incomes can insure at least to a partial extent against fees for hospital attention havo been introduced of late years.

"Tho Bendigo scheme," he said, "has been the most successful, and is being used as a basis for schemes elsewhere in Victoria, and is recommended by tho Charities Board. It is fonnd in experience that many people wish to have t. .'f! doctor of their own choice, and when assisted by a contributory fund they go into the intermediate section of the hospitals."