HOSPITAL CONTROL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19761, 12 April 1926, Page 12

HOSPITAL CONTROL.

SERVICE TO THE PATIENT. DR MACEACHERN’S FAREWELL MESSAGE. DOMINION'S BEAUTIFUL SCENERY. (Pbv United Pbess Association.) WELLINGTON, April 9. In a farewell message. Dr MacJiachern said; "My visit to New Zealand and Australia has been a most unselfish one so far as m.v organisation and myself personally are concerned. My services have been loaned by my director-general, Dr Franklin H. Martin, one of, the greatest leaders and organisers in the world to-day, who directs that very large and altruistic body tn America known as the American College of Surgeons, a great international organisation, embracing North and South America, and having a carefully-selected membership not only from the countries of these two continents, but also from many other countries in the world, including a number of the leading surgeons from New Zealand. This organisation, international in every respect, of which Dr Walter Chipman. Montreal, an outstanding surgeon and leader of the Canadian medical profession, is president, has for its objectives:—(l) The betterment of hospital administration and service to the patient: (2) die betterment of surgery and the practice of medicine generally : (3t the promotion of scientific research in clinical medicine; (4) the education of the public as to persona! health and disease prevention. This organisation has adopted the principle that any efforts to improve health and prevent disease should know no national boundaries, for, after all. life is life anywhere and everywhere in the civilised world. I, therefore, did not come here primarily in the interests of the Health Department or the hospital boards of the Dominion, or the New Zealand branch of the Medical Association, but solely in the interests of the patient and the to-be patient. . . . • "Once again I reiterate that the primary objective for every hospital is ‘service to the patient’—the common objective, or perspective, or focussing point for all services' within and without the hospital. My investigations in New Zealand assure me that the same spirit actuates the New Zealand Government Department of Health, the hospital boards (which are giving their time freely and gratuitously to the great cause) ana the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association, part greatest medical association in the world, the British Medical Association, with headquarters in England. . “Through the earnest co-operation of these three groups with the public will this attitude be maintained and bear fruit abundantly. My six months’ absence from my office means considerable inconvenience to my organisation, a great deal of expense, and a much heavier load for a while at least after I return; but that is all worth while many times over if my services have been of any value to tuis great Dominion in keeping its present hospital system in premier place, and to \ ictoria in helping it to work out its most admirable system now in vogue. "Dr Valintine, Director-General of Health, has done a magnificent piece of work in founding the present system. I am sure that the suggested adjustments that were so well received the other day at the joint conference will tend to even improve the present system. In this I hope he will have the utmost co-operation of all directly or indirectly interested in these institutions. The Dominion hospitals, I hope, will continue to receive much benefit from the knowledge gained and imparted through an interchange of international viewpoints by representatives from this country going abroad to England, America, and elsewhere to study hospital policy and problems, as well as having visitors from abroad going over the system and conferring with them. “ After all, fundamentally, hospital work is much the same the world over, and, though institutions are differently constructed,— organised, managed, and financed in various ways, they all have four common fundamental functions which they must exercice in the most intelligent manner. These functions are: (1) The right care of the sick; (2) the education of doctors, nurses, hospital personnel, and the public generally as to disease prevention; (3) the promotion of public (or, as I like to express it better, personal health; (4) the developing and promoting of scientific research in medicine. “May 1 appeal to the citizens of the Dominion to take a deep community pride and interest in their fine hospitals, and to co operate to the fullest extent with the Department of Health and the hospital boards in coping with the problems which face the system: (1) Too many hospital boards; (2) lack of uniform method of staffing of hospitals, embracing as many as possible of the practising physicians in the community; (3) early establishment of the community hospital system, catering to all sections of the community through the offering of different types of accommodation with greater charges therefor, but a common service to all. “ I would be remiss in my duty if I failed to state that, through the spontaneous activities of the Dominion of New Zealand, great assistance was rendered to me in my work through the fine publicity given in every place I visited. Without any desire to flatter the press of New Zealand, I must say that the interest and enthusiasm in hospital and health matters is unexcelled. This was clearly demonstrated in the most intelligent, comprehensive, and logical reports issued from time to time. A press of this kind is of great advantage to any nation. ‘“Finally. I cannot let the occasion pass without referring again to the most beautiful and entrancing scenery of this country. It has been a great delight to see this as we went from place to place. There is, as I have said before, a measure of regret to a visitor insomuch that he cannot look at it long enough, take it with him, or come back and see it often enough. Nobody should die, if possible, without seeing this great Dominion and enjoying its mountains, valleys, rivers, lakes, caves, thermal regions, and a long list of other interesting features which I have not time to mention. Above all, however, the greatest enjoyment comes from meeting a great people with high ideals, pride in their country, loyal and patriotic to the last degree, and courteous and kind to the visitor within their Dominion. To the country, its people, and particularly its hospital and health service, I extend the sincerest well wishes of the American College ot Surgeons and allied organisations in America, and my own personal well wishes. Mrs MacEacliern and I leave Auckland on Tuesday and return to • America on E.M.S. Aornngi, via Vancouver, 8.C.. and Canada, from which point I probably will start a tour across Canada.’’