HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 12 June 1925, Page 9

HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION.

ADMITTANCE OF PATIENTS. SHOULD DOCTORS DISCRIMINATE COUNTY COUNCILLORS’ VIEWS. At yesterday’s meeting of the Waimate West County Council'considera7 tion was given, to the report or the commission .of Inquiry: into the circumstatices relating to the treatment oi a patient in the. Palmerston North hospital,. in which it was stated that the honorary surgeon on duty had refused to perform an operation, on the grounds that the ! patient was the daughter "of parents who were in a position. to pay for private treatment, and therefore' Was not considered a suitable case for admission to the public hospital. A copy of the report has been forwarded to* various local bodies by the Kiwitea County Council,, whose covering letter stresses (inter alia) the right of all persons, irrespective of means, to be admitted as. patients to public hospitals, and requested- support to this and other suggested reforms m hospital administration which were being put before the Minister of Public Health. . During the discussion the \V aim ate West County Council was .unanimously of the opinion t.li.gt no discrimination should be made respecting the fin a pci a! circumstances of persons seeking admittance to public hospitals, but pending receipt of official information regarding the attitude adopted; by the Hospitals’ Association at its; recentconference it was decided to hold the matter over. Reviewing the case outlined, j.n. the report the- chairman (Cr. E. Long) said the circumstances disclosed that the patient had been admitted to the hospital on a certificate given by hei; ow;n doctor, who had advised an operation; but because her parents were apparently in good financial circumstances, the lion, surgeon had declined to perform the operation ancl after being in the hospital for three dayg. she had to_.be removed, so that she might be operated on at another institution. The most extraordinary fact underlying the principle involved was that the map who was supposed to be able to pay. •fop' private treatment was called on through taxation to. contribute most to the vmkeep, of the public institutions. Public hospitals were maintained by ratepayers through rates and general taxes, and should be- open to everyone .whether rich or poor, and no one should be refused admission if at the time application was made a va.ea.ncy was available. -On the other hand be did; not believe that anyone who- had. plenty of money should, be permitted to .use it to- influence admission before a person in poorer circumstances. A’so the speaker had; no desire to intimate that a person should not enter a private institution if he so wished, but.it was. most unjust that any objection should be- raised on financial, grounds to. his entry iiito a. public hP s ~ nital. There should, he absolutely no. distinction. Cr. J. Maclvay, a. meniber of the. Hawera hospital board, offered, the opinion, that all doctors in public hospitals should he paid and lien, surgeons done alvay with. He supported the chairman’s remarks and further pointed out that people, even though thev could afford private treatment, might wish to take advantage of the better equipment and nursing; facilities provided at public hospitals. . Cr. w. H*. Le Fleming pointed out that extra accommodation would have to be provided; if the members who received treatment at private institutions had to be provided for in the public hospitals. There should, however, he lio bar to admission 'on account of financial circumstances, and the doctor mentioned in the reportshould' not have refused; to perform the operation. The chairman said he did not advocate that' surgeons should give their services free of charge. They should be paid, but should not have power to say who they would treat and who they would not. Cr. Stevenson alsoi supported the payment of surgeons, which he thought would largely overcome the difficulty, but stressed the bigger contributions which would be necessary to" maintain public institutions sufficient to cope with cases treated: under conditions at private hospitals. Commenting on the ease of the extra accommodation, the chairman said itwould be a mere bagatelle in comparison with the amount paid by those who at present supported private hospitals. He repeated that doctors should be. paid lor professional services and nurses also should receive better remuneration. but he wished to. emphasise that public institutions with their u.p-toAlate facilities, for medical treatment should he open t-d all. After further discussion it was decided to defer action pending the receipt of reports concerning the work of th& hospital'hoard’s, conference.