The Hutt News THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1930 HOSPITAL AFFAIRS.

Hutt News, Volume 3, Issue 15, 4 September 1930, Page 7

The Hutt News THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1930 HOSPITAL AFFAIRS.

The question of the management and administration of our hospitals throughout the Dominion is one that at the present time Is occupying the serious, attention of a considerable section of the t community, and it is certainly a , subject \vell worthy of attention. | Under the present system, every adult individual in "the country pays, directly, by the rates to the local body, or indirectly by means of the payment made for board and lodging, or otherwise by a weekly increment to the amount of rent demanded, Such a distribution of cost has undoubtedly j merit, and within limits the sys- i tern appears to work well. But it should not be forgotten that not only the direct ratepayers, but each and every adult does pay. his or her proportion of the expanse. The Board of Management is com-, posed of a number of persons •elected on a proportionate basis fixed by law, and every contributing portion of a HospitaJ- District is entitled to a more or less adequate representation on the Board, or an adult suffrage basis. The functions of this- Board are -apparently the provision and general, management of adequate hospital accommodation, and the dispensing of charitable aid where required to meet the needs of all residents within the area prescribed as a Hospital District. Their duties would appear to include the engagement of an adequate medical, surgical, nursing and clerical staff, with suitable and adequate salaries, and the making of the necessary rules and regulations for. the proper conduct of institutions of this nature. - To provide funds to enable the Board to carry on this work there, is legislative power given to the Board to call upon all local bodies operating within the area within the^HOspltal District to

Apwmde such sums as may bis required to enable the sick, injur- ' ed, and indigent to receive such medical, surgical and charitable -attention as is necessary. Each Hospital Board's finances are augmented by very liberal subsidies from, the Government of the Dominion. Such subsidy is drawn from the Consolidated Fund, which of course comes from taxation imposed upon the people. So that after all every penny of the large sums which is required to enable the Hospital Board to function, comes directly from the people for whose benefit the hospitals exist. The amount received into the Consolidated Fund from Customs duties is very large, and eTery individual who pays customs duties, from the diapers of the infant to the skull cap which covers the bald pate of the grandgir©.—all are subject to taxation, and thus every individual soul pays a due proportion of the cost of our hospital system. In this there is a marked difference between our institutions and those of the Old Country, where the hospitals have been erected and are maintained by the charitable sub- ■ scriptions and donations of welldisposed people who annually subscribe in accordance with their means. Of the merits of the two differing systems it is not our intention to offer an opinion. Tn the Wellington hospital a charge of twelve shillings a day is imposed upon the patient, and enquiries are instituted with respect to his ability to pay this amount. No doubt there are many, whp are in need of the ser--yices; of a physician or surgeon, and- yfao enter the hospital^ for thai; purpose, who. are not in a position to pay that, or any sjim, j and such cases are, not refused the aid of which they stand in. need. But a special committee of the Board makes investigations as to the ability of the patient ? tp, pay prior to the beneficiary fceings

absolved from the debt. No doubt such enquiry and investigations are necessary, and if conducted with discretion and kindliness, cannot be objected to in any way. The question of fees'being exacted from patients is a point which is open to discussion. No one ,#yer yet .went to a hospital for choice, no one wants to go there; but flhe, patient is forced to so, or else to die. No attempt at imposition could be successfully attempted, for it would at once be detected by the highly qualified- medical and surgical - officers in charge. And where sickness and suffering exists, .the matter of ftnaneial ability to pay for maintenance Avithin the wards of a hospital should not enter into consideration. But an official enquiry from a patient as to his or her ability to pay the charges, k^LOWii to be ofteii more, than the patient can earn whilst working, can hardly be said itp, have improved the patient's physical condition, and must often induce a worried, troubled, and uneasy mind.not conducive to speedy re-' eovery. And that patient, whether resident at Wellington, Auek land or the Bluff has already contributed, and is still contributing, his .-due proportion of the cost of the upkeep of the hospital system of the Dominion, and whether or not his present financial condition enables, or does riot enable, him to pay for his maintenance whilst in the institution should not be a matter for consideration. There is much to be said on this important question, and the exigencies of space are such that further remarks must be held over for a future issue.