THE HOSPITAL REPORT. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, July 8.

Otago Witness, Issue 1901, 17 July 1890, Page 15

THE HOSPITAL REPORT. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, July 8.

The report of the inspector of hospitals and charitable institutions was laid on the table to-day. Dr Maogregor observes in his report that in nearly all the hospitals, except those of Hokitika and Ross, where the hospital system has broken down, he observes M a steady progress in economy, and in all of them a very keen interest secures an almost entire absence of negleot or unkindness. Indeed, it is nothing less than wonderful to see what keen solicitude is felt about the management of these institutions all over the country." He also observes that the cost per head has falleu considerably since last year, and goes on to state :—": — " As I bave indicated in former reports, the hospital system has close and intricate relations not merely with the whole problem of charitable aid, but with the whole social life of the people as well. For instance, the great good done by friendly societies is not without some drawbacks. One of their least noticeable effects is to increase the number of our hospitals. The lodge system is so prevalent that in "nearly every community a very large proportion of even well-to-do people are members for the sake, among other objects, of getting medical attendance cheap, and several of the largest societies admit honorary members who join merely for the sake of getting medical attendance at lodge rate?. The result is that the doctor has so few paying patients that he must either leave or get a state subsidy. Every effort is made accordingly to found an hospital, not beoause it is really wanted, but because the residents cannot get a medical man to settle without some guarantee which is thus thrown largely on the State. A good many of our hospitals exist for the simple reason that as things are it is the only way of getting a dootor to stay. One hospital chairman was so candid as to tell me they wanted to keep the hospital going because it enabled them to have a second doctor to call in to assist the other who was already there in certain cases.' |