FREE OUT-PATIENT SERVICE

Evening Star, Issue 23831, 11 March 1941, Page 6

FREE OUT-PATIENT SERVICE

WHAT WILL GOVERNMENT PAY BOARDS? AUCKLAND REFUSES TO MOVE MEANTIME [Pek United Pkess Association.] AUCKLAND, March 10. A decision not to introduce lice out-patient treatment under the State medical service scheme until the Government brings down its regulations for the service was reached at a meeting of the Auckland Hospital Board tonight. An amendment that the board co-operate with the Government in bringing the service into effect was rejected by eight votes to three. The chairman, Mr Allan Moody, said that the hospital boards were not going to be used as a means of bringing the Government’s scheme into effect. “ L am afraid the Minister of Health, Mr Nordmeyer, is becoming somoivhat timid about the scheme. We as a board will not allow ourselves to be used to legislate for the Dominion,” he added. As business men they should carry on with out-patient treatment on the same lines until the Government declared its proposals. His idea was that consideration of hospital benefits should be deferred until the position was made clear. “When the Government puts its cards on the table and tells us what it is going to pay for the patients we shall know what to do,” stated Mr G. T. Parvin. A pica for co-operation was made by Mrs Dreaver and Dr Hastings. The Chairman said that the Hospital Boards’ Association had a meeting three weeks ago to discuss the matter, but the Minister did not wait for the conference, but went off to some function in the south. Mr Moody said lie had later received a call to go to Wellington, but he had not complied with it. “ I am not at the beck and call of any Minister of the Crown, If the Minister wants to see mo he can come to Auckland,” the chairman said. He had written to the association expressing tho hope that it would not be used as an instrument to bring the scheme into effect. _ " I only hope the executive has tho intelligence not to be lured into the trap.” The Rev. W. C. Wood said the department had no justification for acting 111 this way. It had Had years to prepare the regulations. •* It is absurd to ask the board to put its head in a bag,” ho added. SHARP RETORT MINISTER'S REPLY TO CHAIRMAN BOARD MUST REFUND CHARGES [Per United Press Association.] GREYMOUTH, March 11. Commenting this morning on tho report from Auckland of the remarks -made by Mr Allan Moody and the decision of the Hospital Board not to provide free out-patient service, the Minister of Health (the Hon A. H. Nordmeyer) said: “ While Mr Moody was sulking in Auckland _ the remaining members of the Hospital Boards’ Association Executive were meeting me in conference in Wellington. As a result of our discussing satisfactory arrangements, to the Government on the one side and the boards on tho other, were entered into. The attitude of the gentlemen on the executive _ was in striking contrast to that exhibited on this occasion and on others by the chairman of the Auckland Hospital Board. The regulations are ready and will be gazetted shortly. Tho only change that will now require to be made will be the insertion of a provision requiring the Auckland Hospital Board to refund to any person whom it has charged for out-patient service since March 1 the amount so charged.”