National Health Services

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 97, 27 April 1938, Page 4

National Health Services

Views of Hospital Boards’ Association

SUGGESTIONS OUTLINED

Per Press Association.

WELLINGTON, Last Night

The attitude of the Hospital Boards Association of New Zealand towards the Government’s health and superannuation proposals was set out in a report presented by Air. J. W. Dove, president, aud Air. E. Cannons, secretary, who attended the sitting of the committee this afternoon. The associa-

tion summarised its views on the main points of divergence with the Government’s proposals as follows: (1) A complete service embracing a full range of health service benefits to those most in need of them (those on the lower income scale) is preferable to a limited range of benefits available to all.

(2) A contributory basis of finance by the insured, the employer and the State is preferable to the proposed direct tax.

“In submitting the views of hospital boards, we rely upon the consideration previously given to the matter of health insurance,” said the report. “The Government’s proposals have not had the consideration of the hospital boards us a whole, but the boards will meet later to discuss the complete scheme with a view to ascertaining the manner iu which they can co-operate.” An outline was given of the proposals approved at the general conference of hospital boards iu 1935, when it was resolved to urge the Government to introduce a compulsory scheme of national health insurance. The income limit then suggested was £3OO, a -th au allowance of £SO for each dependent, and contributions were to be subsidised by the rftatc. Other recommendations Avere that the scheme should apply to persons between the ages of 16 and 65, that it should include dependents of the insured aud that the Health Department aud hospital boards were suitable agencies to represent the central Government and local insurance committees. The willingness ot boards to co-operate fully with the Government could bo taken for granted. “The generUi practitioner is tho pivot of the Avhole scheme,” the report continued. “However, Avithout additional benefits, particularly specialist consultant and home nursing, there is a limitation placed on tne value of his services to those on the lower scale of

income. This may result in au increase rather than a decrease in admissions to hospital for diagnostic and consultant services, as well as from the lack of nursing facilities iu the home.”

Concerning the provision of free hospital aud sanatorium treatment for all, the Hospital Boards Association assumed from previous evidence that any member of the community would be entitled to hospital care in an institution under the control of hospital boards, with full relief from personal liability. Payment of about 6s a day as a grant out of the social services fund had been suggested by tho actuary as a basis of payment for hospital care. It avus also assumed that a patient in a private hospital Avould be assisted to the extent of 6s a day. Thus treatment in pubnc hospitals Avould be made more attractive than in private hospitals. Owing to the variation of charges, a differentiation must /be made in payments out of the social services fund. Furthermore, the new source of revenue produced by the 6s a day Avould be cancelled out by filling the present shortage of beds, estimated at 1000, extensions to out-patients’ departments and the payment of the present honorary staff, since honorary service could not be reconciled with free hospital treatment for all.