HOSPITAL SYSTEM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20841, 7 April 1931, Page 8

HOSPITAL SYSTEM.

A VISITOR'S CRITICISMS. \ "WEALTHY SHOULD PAY." A prominent orthopaedic specialist from Los Angeles, Dr. Steele Stewart, is a through passenger on the Aorangi from Sydney. He visited the North Island of New Zealand recently and has been staying in Sydney. " I think, considering the youth of your country, that you have done remarkably well in its development." said Dr. Stewart. New Zealand's isolation was a real advantage in that it gave opportunity to break away from tradition and to build up institutions on new lines specially adapted to local conditions. Dr. Stewart offered some criticism of the New Zealand hospital system on the' ground that it was not fair to medical men in private practice. People of ample means obtained treatment- in (he public hospital when they should be having private treatment. In the United States the financial position of patients was closely inquired into, and if they were in a position to pay for private attention they were made to do so. The average actual cost of keeping a patient in hospital ranged from five to seven dollars a day, and ho understood it was about the same in New Zealand. It was not fair that wealthy persons should become a burden upon the public purse. Willi regard to the staffing of hospitals, Dr. Stewart said it was found in his country that it was not the most successful or progressive typo of professional man that would remain for lopg periods on a fixed salary. A fixed salary was all right for young house-sur-geons finding tlieir feet at tile beginning of their careers, but after a certain stage members of the hospital staff should he free to earn according to thei£ skill and ability.