HOSPITAL CONTROL

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 9, 10 July 1942, Page 4

HOSPITAL CONTROL

MINISTER'S NEW POWERS

Power is given the Minister of Health to replace any hospital board by a commission of control, where he considers circumstances warrant such a step, in the Hospitals Administration Emergency Regulations issued last night. Change in control may be made in the following circumstances:

1. If a hospital board fails or refuses to carry out the duties imposed on it by the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act. (to which are added in these regulations the provision of adequate emergency accommodation and the examination and treatment of members and recruits of any Allied force, and such other matters as the Minister thinks fit having regard to the .exigencies of the war). 2. If its affairs are being seriously mismanaged. 3. If it fails to appoint an adequate staff, thus resulting in the impairment of the efficiency of any institution under its control.

4. If it acts in an arbitrary or improper manner with resulting inefficiency in the conduct of its affairs.' 5. If, owing to vacation of office, an insufficient number of board members are left to form a quorum. Except in the case of grave dereliction on the part of a board, the power to appoint a commission shall not be exercised unless the board has been notified of the matters of which it is in default and has failed to take proper steps to remedy them. A commission so appointed will have all the powers of a hospital board, and all expenditure incurred by it m carrying out its functions (including the salaries of members of the commission) is payable out of the funds of the hospital board.