THE PALMERSTON NORTH PUBLIC HOSPITAL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 104, 1 April 1926, Page 6

THE PALMERSTON NORTH PUBLIC HOSPITAL.

Till? praise bestowed upon the Palmerston North Public Hospital by Dr Malcolm T. MacEeachern, tho noted American authority upon hospital management, in his address to members of the board on Tuesday, must have been very •welcome indeed to the gentlemen who give so much of their time to its administration. By many people a hospital is viewed in tlie light of a necessary adjunct to an important town. It is certainly so, but a more healthy interest might reasonably be expected of the townspeople and, if Dr MacEachern’s visit should to any extent create this, then it certainly has been worth while. The delight expressed at the equipment in the hospital reminds us forcibly of the very up-to-date institution which Palmerston North is proud to possess, while his statement that “everything is so comfortable and wholesome about the institution and immaculately clean, it looks as if the patients are very well taken care of,” was a very nice tribute to the labours of the exceedingly capable medical and nursing staffs. In his address to the citizens in the evening, the learned doctor stressed the' desirability of hospitals receiving their patients in a manner that would inspire confidence in the institutions. Those who have had to enter our public hospitals for treatment know full well the paramount need for such confidence, and it is pleasing to read from our visitor’s tribute that the Palmerston North Hospital must certainly inspire confidence in the patients. Another interesting point made by Dr MacEachern was in reference to the operating theatre which he looked upon as most creditable to the board, though at the same time stressing the need for increasing the facilities at an early date. On this question the Hospital Board and the Department of Health are at variance, the former, as Sir James Wilson explained, desiring to extend the theatre block and the latter opposing it apparently in view of the big building scheme the board has on hand. But "additional theatre facilities must come in time and when the matter is again brought before the department, Dr MacEachem’s advice will materially strengthen the board’s hands. Other matters touched upon by our visitor cannot be dealt with at present, but his further statement, “you have the right kind of institution for a district such as this,” shows that the .board is working on sound lines. In the interview g-iven to the ‘‘Standard” the doctor mentioned that, though the hospitals of the Dominion were giving excellent service, there were certain deficiencies which could be easily remedied, and his preliminary report would be discussed at a conference at Wellington this month. That report will be eagerly awaited, for it will be readily recognised that, in hospital administration, the Dominion must march abreast of the times, and take heed of the lessons to be learnt from the larger centres.