HOSPITAL OUT-PATIENTS

Evening Star, Issue 23832, 12 March 1941, Page 11

HOSPITAL OUT-PATIENTS

FREE TREATMENT UNDER SECURITY ACT BOARDS COMPLYING [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, March 11. Mr F. Castle, chairman of the Wellington Hospital Board, said to-day that the board was carrying on with the out-patient service in terms of the letter from the Director-General of Health, and was supplying medical attendance for out-patients. Out-patients wero now not being asked to pay a fee for consultation. They still had to pay for medicine, as so far the pharmaceutical benefits had not been made effective. GPLYMOUTH, March 11. Tho Grey Hospital Board tonight decided unanimously to co-operate with the Department of Health in regard to free treatment for out-patients under the Social Security Act. The department advised the board of Ministerial approval of renewal of tho agreements with the medical associations, of which there are a large number in the district. It was stated by the board’s secretary that the renewals were now under discussion in view of the free scheme, and members stated that some associations were seeking arrangements for free treatment by specialists, apart from the free out-patients’ scheme, and also the free use of 'ambulances. IN OPERATION AT DUNEDIN The institution of free out-patients’ service at the Dunedin Public Hospital came into operation on March 1, stated Mr J. Dove, chairman of the Hospital Board, this morning. This free service was purely a consultative one, and outpatients had to pay for any pharmaceutical benefits, or anything they took away. And, too, a person who had been discharged from hospital, but who was required to attend the out-patients’ department for massage or similar treatment had to pay for this service.