PUBLIC HOSPITALS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18387, 1 May 1923, Page 6

PUBLIC HOSPITALS.

The existence of British Hospitals and the scope of their activities are determined' by voluntary contributions. Not only is there .no question raised as. to the soundnesn of the principle, but its maintenance is regarded as a matter touching the national honour. Thus it was only the universal opinion that was expressed by Mr. Lloyd George at Manchester -when he gave fresh endorsement to the voluntary system. Three points were made by Mr. Lloyd George: that under another system, the cost would be threefold ; eminent doctors would not give their services without fee; aris public sympathy in the welfare of the hospitals would diminish. Taking this statement of the case, our experience in New Zealand suggests that while Mr. Lloyd George may be right in his admiration of the principle he advocates, he is mistaken in some of his conclusions regarding the alternative. Economically, the voluntary system is far from perfect. There are 112 hospitals in London under the supervision of King Edward Vll.'s Hospital Fund, from which they receive grants and guidance. In the rest of England and Wales there are 641 voluntary hospitals, and there are | 90 in Scotland. There is a moveI ment to establish a central fund for j them 011 the lines of the London ; fund, not only to augment their • finances, but also to ensure a higher j standard of administration and to j prevent waste of money and effort i by co-ordination and the elimination j of over-lapping. Such supervision j is inherent in a system of, mainteni ance by State and local taxation. But the contention that voluntary professional service is to be found only in voluntary hospitals, which probably was impressive in Man- | chester, would be received with | amazement by a New Zealand J audience. We know that there is | keen rivalry among doctors and surgeons to secure appointment to the honorary staffs of our public hospitals, not to obtain the fees, since none are paid, but in obedience to exactly the same noble spirit that moves the King and all his people to | rally to the aid of British hospitals. ! But Mr. Lloyd George is rierht in ■ emphasising the potency of human ■ sympathy. Is the attitude of the : people generally in New Zealand ; comnarable with the devotion of the j medical profession to the service of ! public hospitals? Unfortunately. | our system tends to become mei chanical. Taxation toward State subsidies and rates toward local ; levies are paid without protest, but j without realisation that the hospital i offers a splendid outlet for generous land charitable impulse. The publio

attitude toward hospitals is not unsympathetic, but it is certainly apathetic. It would be to the common benefit if, while preserving the principle of the present system, efforts , were • made, 'by .such means as the Hospital Saturdays of British cities, toi enlarge the meagre flow of voluntary contributions to hospital - funds, and to revive the latent interest in the work that hospitals are doing. Even our mechanical system does not provide for all the needs of the hospitals, and it cannot be doubted that no more than an opportunity is needed to discover the practical synipathy of all classes with their beneficent service.