HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 143, 21 May 1925, Page 7

HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION

• TREATMENT OF ALL CASES. OROUA COUNTY COUNCIL’S VIEWS. (From Our Feilding Correspondent.) The Kiwitea County Council’s proposals in connection with hospital administration were discussed at yesterday’s meeting of the Oroua County Council. The proposals, which have already been published, have as thoir object the ensuring .of some action by the Government in regard to the findings of the recent Commission in connection with what is known as the Bryce case.

The chairman, Cr. Campbell, in discussing tire matter, said that Air Bryce had been fighting for a principle and ho deserved tire sympathy of tiro whole council. The speaker’s opinion was that public hospitals should bo available to all who desired to receive treatment, and there should be no discrimination, as to who should be admitted. Tiro time had arrived when tho administration of these public institutions should bo reviewed. Public hospitals were maintained by tlro < ratepayers, and they should have tire right to treatment in them if they so desired. Tho commission supported Air Bryce’s contention, and it was right that what Air Bryce had fought for should bo endorsed by tiro council. Undoubtedly linance would bo the “bugbear” if the recommendations of the commissioner as tar as tho widening of the scope of such institutions wero concerned were to be put into force, but if proper charges were made in the case of those who could afford to pay, many of the difficulties on that score would be overcome.

Cr. Campbell then moved the following resolution: “That this council is of the opinion that the time lias arrived when Uio hospital boards and the Department of Health should take into considcratibn tho important question of so extending the operations of public hospitals so ns to ensure all classes of tho community being 1 treated in such institutions if thoy prefer to have treatment therein, and the Government provide the capital cost of 6uch institutions.” ; Cr McElroy seconded the motion, i Cr. Vincent stressed the intricacy of the problem. Ho did not agree that there Would be any surplus revonue if the recommendations wore given effect to, as suggested by the Kiwitea county. Tire Government would not subsidise private Wards, and therefore the cost would have to be borne by tho ratepayers. Recently, the Palmerston North Hospital had 170 putients accommodated in one day, anil the average for the year was about 124 daily. If tho recommendations were given ilfect to by the Government considerably greater accommodation would have to be provided, involving a- large sum of money. The hospital boards would have to carry them out and the ratepayers would have ;o find the money. So far us the medical staff was concerned, the Palmerston North

institution had the services of tho best men, and it was a very doubtful point whether the best practitioners would bo prepared to accept permanent positions at a stated salary under tlie board. Cr. McElroy supported the opinion that Air Bryce: deserved credit for fighting a principle, and that there was need for the public hospital administration being ravtewed, with a view to giving effect to the findings of the commission. After further discussion, Cr. Vincent said that ho was in full accord with tlie resolution, his previous remarks being made to show that changes along the lines suggested by tlie Kiwitea county would involve considerable additional revenue. Tho morion was then carried.