OAMARU PUBLIC HOSPITAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20643, 15 February 1929, Page 3

OAMARU PUBLIC HOSPITAL.

TO THE ET.ITOR. Sir, —It appears that my letters to your paper have caused something of a flutter in the dovecot. Why correspondents seel: to holster up the present indefensible system under the cloak of noins do pluine am at a loss to know, For the benefit of your correspondent “ P.A.R.,” I state that I have never criticised the expenditure upon the Oamaru Public Hospital, though there are not a few struggling taxpayers who consider it to be grossly extravagant. What I have contended for is the right of every taxpayer to receive treatment at the public hospital; the appointmon of a highly-qualified medical superinte dent: and the provision of a few private wards, so that people would not be forced into private hospitals controlled by th medical fraternity. Xo argument has yet been advanced to weaken my contention in any shape or form. I do not intend writing further upon the subject, but 1 do ask the people of Oamaru and district, in all sincerity, seriously to ponder the present position, and to ask themselves if it does not constitute something that approaches a public scandal. I am quite satisfied to leave the matter to the judgment of those who have had experiences similar to my own.—l am, etc., H. M'Quade. Oamaru, February 14.

Sir, —The thanks of the community arc due to your correspondent, Mr M'Quade, for drawing public attention to hospital matters in Oamaru. Your correspondent is quite mild in his expressions. The fact is, Sir, that the private hospital is owned and controlled by certain medical men in Oamaru. and they see to it that patients enter their institution. I myself have seen patients in the private hospital, who could not possibly afford the fees, ami cases are on record where working men have been sued at court. That it is a paying concern is quite plain from the fact that the doctors can take a trip round the world every few years. The present Hospital Board is dominated by the British Medical Association A patient will not be examined at the oublie hospital unless he first goes to a private practitioner, and until quite recently a person who met with an accident had to ho taken the rounds of the doctors, in the hope of finding one at home, so the fee of half a guinea had to be placed in the doctor’s way before the victim was admitted to hospital. It is high time we had some new blood in the Hospital Board, and I hope Mr M'Quade will a’low himself to be nominated.—l am. etc.. Once Bitten.