HOSPITALS FOR ALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20365, 20 September 1929, Page 15

HOSPITALS FOR ALL.

PRIVATE WARDS QUESTION

NOT POLICY OF GOVERNMENT.

STATEMENT BY MINISTER

I [by telegraph.—press association.] WELLINGTON. Thursday. Many topics concerning public hospitals, were discussed in tho Houso (las evening when tho Minister of Health, tho Hon. A. J. Stallworthy, moved the second reading of the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Amendment Bill. He said it comprised an agreement reached between tho Wairau Hospital Board and tho Picton Hospital Board, and was designed to merge the two districts which these boards served into one district, to he called (he Marlborough hospital district. Mr. J. A. Young (Hamilton) said the hill raised the question whether there should bo a reduction in tho number of hospital districts in tho Dominion. He said sonio districts were merely monuments to local political ambitions—worthy ambitions, it was true—hut they imposed an undue burden on local ratepayers. Mr. M. J. Savage (Labour —Auckland West) said the Minister of Health had spoken, at tho hospital boards' conference in favour of tho introduction of private paying wards in public hospitals, and lie contended it was justifiable to assume tho Minister was spoaking on behalf of the Government. Mr. Savage insisted that this was a form of class distinction, ami he would like to know if such a system was part of the Govern-

nient's policy. Mr. Savage said tho Minister was advocating the erection of private wards nt the public expense for tho use of the richer class, who would also bo able to select their own medical and surgical attention. He was in favour of as much privacy as possible, and tho provision of the best medical and surgical treatment obtainable, but those privileges should bo available to everyone. Continuing, Mr. Savage said it seemed the time had come for ■ seeking some national system of financing public hospitals. The present tendency was to place on the patient as much of the cost as he could and would bear, and the greater part of tho burden then fell on the local ratepayers.

Mr. A. M. Samuel (Reform—Thames) said he trusted the Minister's statement to which Mr. Savage had referred was not to bo taken as an indication of tho Government's policy. He was satisfied no Government would countenance any policy of the kind, and ho was certain that the House would not agree to it. A system of differential treatment of patients would constitute a serious injustice.

A long discussion followed on the question of private wards in hospitals, most of tho speakers opposing the idea. Replying to Mr. Savage, the Minister said he had simply stated tho pros and cons of the different aspects of tho situation. He had not made a definite statement either on behalf of himself or on behalf of the Government. He was completely opposed to any differential treatment for rich and poor. Mr. Stallworthy added that while the richer classes were legally entitled to the samo rights for admission to public hospitals as other classes, actually they did not receive tho same consideration, as in cases in which thcro was pressure on the accommodation the poorer people received preference. lie w;as satisfied the hospital system in New Zealand was second to none. The bill was read a second tim#.