HOSPITAL SYSTEM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22751, 11 December 1935, Page 3

HOSPITAL SYSTEM

MR JENKINS'S PROPOSALS VIEW OF SOUTH OTAGO BOARD NATIONAL SCHEME PREFERRED Strong opposition was expressed at the monthly meeting of the South Otago Hospital Board yesterday to the proposals outlined some time ago by Mr James A. Jenkins for the co-ordination of the hospital system south of the Waitaki River. Subsequent to his original announcement, Mr Jenkins distributed a circular suggesting that a meeting of interested organisations and parties should be held to discuss his proposals, and it was this communication which was under .consideration at yesterday's meeting of the board. After a lengthy discussion it was decided that, if the board was to maintain its present independent position, the safest course would be to refrain altogether from being represented at the meeting. The opinion was also expressed that a national hospital and health service was much to be preferred to the scheme proposed by Mr Jenkins. UNDESIRABLE PROPOSALS Mr J. Fenton said he took it that Mr Jenkins's proposals involved the amalgamation of all the hospital boards south of the Waitaki, with a pooling of resources. The proposals might have some good points, but the South Otago Board had always taken the view that if there was any risk to a patient in being dealt with at the local hospital he should be sent to Dunedin. If Mr Jenkins's proposals were adopted, it would mean that the South Otago Board would be merged into the district scheme, and the board would become something like the Waipiata Sanatorium Committee, with one representative on the controlling authority. The Balclutha Hospital would be reduced considerably in importance. "We fought for separation," Mr Fenton added, " because we considered that when we were under the Otago Board the people in our district were not being treated satisfactorily. That was my opinion, anyway. Another danger that would arise from Mr Jenkins's suggestion is that it would enable a doctor to use a public hospital as a private hospital, and I have always* been opposed to that. If the ratepayers and the Government maintain a hospital it should be open to everyone. I agree with Mr Jenkins tjiat there is a danger from surgical tuberculosis patients being left in general wards, but behind all these proposals is the idea of centralisation, which would luave a harmful social effect. There would be more medical men on the central board than representatives of the ratepayers. I move that the board should not be represented at the meeting." Mr Fenton read a section from Mr Jenkins's report in which the Balclutha Hospital was described as a problem, because it had evidently been built as a small base hospital and was desirous of providing facilities beyond the needs of the district. TREATMENT OF PATIENTS The chairman (Mr H. A. Brough): The South Otago Board has. co-opera-tion already. In every case where patients cannot be satisfactorily treated at our hospital they are sent on to Dunedin. Fourteen patients from this district were treated in the Dunedin Hospital last month, For that reason there should be no talk, as far as the South Otago Board is concerned, .of patients being retained in our hospitals to their detriment.

Mr J. Christie: In special cases patients have the right to send to Dunedin for any medical man they wish to attend them. , '

Mr D. M'Gregor said that the proposals submitted by Mr Jenkins would virtually recommit the South Otago hospitals to their former subservient position, and would shackle them anew under the Otago Board, whose irksome domination had been the primary cause of separation. The adoption of a national health system would be preferable to the semi-parochial project envisaged by Mr Jenkins. As the now Government, however, was committed to the institution of a national health service, he suggested that the board should refrain from any precipitate commitments. "We want a national scheme," he added, "to which everyone would contribute and under which there would be no difficulty in collecting the legitimate fees. Ido not think, however, that we should go so far as to refrain from being represented at the meeting." The chairman: It would be no use sending a delegate with instructions to vote against everything. Mr A. King: I am quite opposed to delegates going to this meeting with a free hand. Mr A. Harris: I am very much in favour of no delegates going at all. ASKING TOO MUCH Mr A. Rennie expressed the opinion that the board should hesitate to takj any action that would be likely to discourage an eminent specialist like M-" Jenkins. The centralisation, he thought, was merely for the' purpose of providing better treatment for patients as a whole, but Mr Jenkins appeared to be trying to drive the wedge in from the wrong end. He was really asking for too much and had prejudiced his case. " I think," added Mr Ronnie, "that the thanks of the community are due to Mr Jenkin* for the clear and comprehensive proposals lie has outlined, but I cannot support them because he is asking a little too much." The motion was carried.