FREE HOSPITALS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23378, 21 June 1939, Page 14

FREE HOSPITALS

ADMISSION SYSTEM DOCTOR'S CERTIFICATE WAITING LIST OF PATIENTS TARANAKI BOARD'S POSITION [by telegraph—own coukkspondknt] NEW PLYMOUTH, Tuesday Tlio New Plymouth Hospital will not bo able to accommodate all the people who are expected to seek free hospital treatment under tlio social security scheme after July 1, and a waiting list will havo to bo established. Before admittance to hospital every prospective patient will have to go to his own privato doctor and pay for medical examination, and an entry note authorising him to be admitted to hospital. These were points stressed by the Taranaki Hospital Board when hospital benefits were discussed. The present part-time medical staff at the hospital was prepared to carry on as at present, said Dr. C. A. Taylor, medical superintendent, unless their work at tho hospital increased and their private practice was reduced. If this happened they would not carry on at tho hospital without increased payments. Dr. Taylor said ho felt that acinussions to tho hospital would definitely increase. This would mean that a waiting list would have to be set up and that patients would havo to bo discharged from hospital earlier than at present. It was still indefinite whether tho benefits would cover specialist treatment, stated Dr. Taylor. If in-patients could bo charged for these services the position would bo all right. Howover, if they wero free, tho result would bo that all out-patients would become in-patients to get these services i'reo. Dr. Tavlor also referred to tho question of dental treatment. At present three part-timo dentists gave treatmen at tho hospital. There would bo a considerable increase in tho uemand for dental treatment if it was free. Peoplo would go to tlio hospital instead of going to their > dentists, lr this happened tho dentists' salaries would havo to bo increased. It was decided to write to tlio Health Department asking that tho position of out-patients bo clarified. It was also decided that, except in urgent or accident cases, tho present practice of requiring a private doctor s entpr note before a patient is admitted to hospital bo continued. NO OFFICIAL ADVICE

COMPLAINT BY BOARDS TREATED LIKE CHILDREN CRITICISM OF GOVERNMENT [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] NEW PLYMOUTH, Tuesday The fact that no official advice of tho introduction of the hospital benefits on July 1 had been received from the Minister was commented upon by the chairman of tho Hawera Hospital Board, Mr. A. L. Campbell, at a meeting to-day. "Wo have to operato tho scheme and wo should have been consulted," said Mr. Campbell. "It seems to mo that tho Government is trying to make itself popular at the extreme expense of the ratepayers. I think wo should have had some direct communication from tho Minister. The Government is treating us as though we were a lot of children." . . A similar complaint that the board had not been notified of tho operation of the scheme was made by Mr. C. H. Barnitfc at to-day's mooting of the Taranaki Hospital Board at Now Plymouth, and it was decided to writo to the Health Department asking for confirmation of tho press report of tho introduction of hospital benefits on July 1.