HOSPITAL EXPENDITURE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19405, 13 August 1926, Page 10

HOSPITAL EXPENDITURE

VIEWS TOO EXTRAVAGANT. STRICT ECONOMY NECESSARY. WARNING BY DR. VALINTINE. [by telegraph.—own correspondent.] MASTEKTOK', Thursday. Speaking to-day at the Masterton Hospital, Dr. T. H. A. Yalintine, DirectorGeneral of Health, stressed the need for strict economy in expenditure on public health. Ho stated that New Zealand had done well in its effort to gusird the health of the people—better than any country in the world —but the time had come for a halt to be called. The object of Dr. Valintine's visit to the hospital was to discuss the proposed expenditure by the Wairairapa Hospital Board of £IO,OOO on the extension of accommodation for the nursing staff, which is at present somewhat crowded. In very plain words Dr. "Valintine made it clear that he was opposed to acy further expenditure by hospital boards where it could be avoided. "I have been advised," he said, "that we are in for & bad time and my department has bee a requested to economise wherever possible. . New Zealand has done more for its people ic: the way of hospital conveniences than any other country in the world, but we have been too extravagant in our views. Hero vre have five bods per thousand of population, while England has only ono bed per thousand. It seems to ;me that if we had doublis iho number'of beds wo should still fill them, but that state of affairs is not desireiJ." Quite recently he had to oppose extensive expenditure by two hospital boards which were anxious to launch out and make further elaborate provision for bospitaT treatment. New Zealand was going too fast in this direction and it would bo his policy in the immediate future to watch which way things were going. The only new expenditure which he could approve-wis for the provision of maternity, hospitals, and this phase of the matter had tc be catered for. He honestly believed tlicit the country was very well supplied with hospitals at present and he did not favour the development of any institution which (jould possibly carry on with its present facilities.