HOSPITAL TREATMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18895, 18 December 1924, Page 13

HOSPITAL TREATMENT.

RIGHT OF THE RATEPAYER.

UPHELD BY COMMISSIONER.

FUEL COST FEES RECOMMENDED.

£B\* TELEGRAPH.-— rRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. Wednesday. The commissioner appointed to inquire into -the Bryce case at Palmerston North, Mr. E. Page, S.M., in his findings, says:— ''Looking at all the circumstances, I think Dr. Barnett, having accepted tho appointment of honorary surgeon should not havo declined to operate on apatiert who was duly admitted in accordance with the practico and policy of the board and whom, in the ordinary course of tl,; hospital system, it fell to his lot tj attend."

Miss Btyce, he continues, was sent to the Palmerston North Hospital priinarilv to assert or to test the principle which her father maintained. Dr. Barnett was aware of tiiis, and his refusal to operate was dictated by his desire to vindicate the view held by himself and bv others of the honorary staff on an important question of principle, which Mr. Bryce's action had raised. Tho practice of doctors in Palmerston North, including tho honorary medical staff, in. discriminating according to the patient's financial position between various patients seeking admission is not desirable, arid should bo discontinued. Hospitals are maintained out of the local rates and general taxes, and the commissioner thinks tho hospitals should bo open to everyone, though if accommodation is limited the poorer patients should have preference. Adequate fees, including a reasonable fee for operations, etc., sufficient to cover tho whole cost of treatment, should bo charged those able to pay. Ho recommends that the fees ho increased to cover the full cost of maintenance and treatment of patients in public hospitals. The boards should retain tho power of remitting tho wholo or part of the fees in the case of any patient unable to pay. It is suggested that hospital boards and tho Department of Health take into consideration the important question of so extending tho operations of public hospitals as to adequately serve all classes of tho community. ~ There was a tendency toward tho establishment of private rooms and semi-privato wards in the main hospitals. These could be made use of by patients willing to pay for them.

A workable scheme could, the commissioner thought, he gradually evolved where patients in public hospitals could bo treated, if desired, by their own private practitioners. If the honorary medical staffs were to be continued further provision might bo made that patients able to pay should pay to the physician or the surgeon a moderate fee in accordance with an agreed scale for treatment or operation.