HEALTH AND HOSPITAL SERVICES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27090, 26 May 1949, Page 8

HEALTH AND HOSPITAL SERVICES

NEED FOR REFORM COMMENT BY LOCAL SURGEON Before long definite action would have to be taken in the reform of hospital and health services in New Zealand, said Mr James A. Jenkins, past president of the New Zealand branch of . the British Medical Association, commenting on a statement by the Auckland surgeon, Mr Douglas Robb, which was published in the Daily Times yesterday. “ I have not seen the full text of Mr Robb’s address, but in the main he supports the principles that were enunciated in my presidential address when I opened the meeting of the New Zealand branch of the BMA in Dunedin in February, 1948,” said ’Mr Jenkins. “Mr Robb confined his remarks to the hospital services of the country, but I feel he has not gone far enough. Medical practice, hospitals, and the many ancillary services are indivisible. In the centres, standards of medical education, undergraduate and postgraduate, are very closely linked with hospital organisation and administration.” . Mr Jenkins said that in his address he had recommended: (1) A central commission of control, unhampered by politics and the Department of Health. “I presume Mr Robb is wrongly reported when he advocates greater political control,” he said. (2) Regional committees, probably about six in all, to cover the reorganisation of hospital and health districts. The committees were to be consultative and advisory to the commission on all matters of hospital policy and health services in the area. It was suggested that the personnel be partly elected by lay interests and partly nominated by medical and nursing interests. (3) An alteration of the constitution of hospital boards. He suggested that in the centres and larger towns there should be a small elected board, adequately balanced bv the addition of representatives of medicine, nursing, and the ancillary services. Medical education should hot be lost sight of in the four centres.

“Mr Robb is appreciative of the weakness of the system by which members of boards elected by popular vote, who are hot in a position to give sound advice, have to make decisions of grave importance to the community,” said Mr Jenkins. “This is entirely in line with what has been emphasised already. “It is .to be hoped that the public of New Zealand will take a genuine interest in the proposals for reform that have been made from time to time They have in the main agreed in general principle, and I feel that before long definite action will have to be taken,” he concluded.