HOSPITAL TREATMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18996, 18 April 1925, Page 12

HOSPITAL TREATMENT.

PROPOSED NEW SYSTEM, SUPERINTENDENT'S PROTEST. QUESTION OF PRIVATE CASES. [BV TEI.EGr.Ara. —OWN CORRESPONDENT,] NEW PLYMOUTH. Friday. Tho medical starting of public hospitals, and a proposal to raise the fees charged patients to at least 15s a day, aro among tho matters to bo discussed at a .special conference of hospital boards at Auckland on May 27. The proposals have already been before the executive of tho Hospital Boards' .Association, and it has drawn up tho following memorandum for submission to tho conference: "That the association is of opinion that the hospitals should he available to all who claim admission, and that all the medical practitioners should be concerned with is, whether the physical condition of the patient, is such to make him a fit subject for hospital treatment, and whether ho would benefit thereby. That hospital boards .ire recommended to raise their lees to at. least 15s a day, such fee to be reduced to those unable to pay the full l'ee. That the patient, on entering the hospital, should fill in an admission form embodying such scale, and bo told that any reduction in the fee of 15s will depend upon the verification of the particulars given by him. That hospital boards are recommended to adopt the suggestion of tho Director-General of HealtU, Dr. T. 11. A. Valintino, that the honorary medical staff may be remunerated for whole or part time services." These proposals caine before a meeting of tho Taranaki Hospital Board. They led to a general discussion on the control of public hospitals, and elicited from the medical superintendent of the New Plymouth Hospital, Dr. Walker, a strong protest against the proposal to allow every medical man to treat his own patients in the public hospital.. Dr. Walker said lie did not think such a system would bo satisfactory. "The board has hitherto followed the policy of making the medical superintendent responsible for all work done in the institution," ho continued. "Under the scheme suggested a heavy responsibility would fall on the board's medical officer, aiid it is a responsibility I am not prepared to accept. Such a scheme would involve tho appointment of a whole-time medical superintendent, but if the board thinks it desirable, I am prepared to retire at any time. "Such an appointment would involve a salary of not less than £IOOO per annum, plus allowance for board, etc. With each man treating his own patients a satisfactory ward visit for each patient would be difficult to arrange, as the visiting doctor should be accompanied by the house surgeon and ward sister. To establish such a scheme means that every medical man in Now Plymouth, now or hereafter to arrive, will have tho right of treating his own patients, and this, quite irrespective of his experience, medical or surgical. "1 am of opinion that, particularly on the surgical side, tho work should, as far as possiblo, be carried out by a man of experience, and the board is only doing its duty by the general public by ensuring that this is so."