HOSPITAL TREATMENT

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 3379, 17 December 1924, Page 6

HOSPITAL TREATMENT

REPORT ON BRYCE CASE.

Electric Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, This Day.

Mr Page, S.M., the Commission appointed to inquire into the Bryce case at Palmerston North, has reported in his findings. He Says; Looking at all the circumstances, I think Dr Barnett, having accepted tile appointment of honorary surgeon, ■ should not have declined to operate on the patient who was duly admitted in accordance with the practice and policy of tile Board, and whom in the' ordinary course of the hospital system, it fell to- his lot to attend.” Miss Bryce, continues the Commission, was sent to Palmerston hospital primarily to assert or to test the principle, which her father maintained. Dr. Barnett was an am of this and his refusal to operate was dictated by his desire to vindicate the view held by himself and by others of the honorary staff on tin important question of principle which Bryce’s action had raised.

The practice of doctors in Palmerston, including the honorary medical staff, in discriminating according, to the patients financial .position between various patients seeking: admission is not desi.rab!.', and should be discontinued. Hospitals are maintained out of local rates and general taxes and the commissioner thinks hospitals should be open to everyone, though if the accommodation is limited the poorer patient should harepreference. Adequate fees, including

a. reasonable fee for operations, etc., sufficient to cover the whole cost of the treatment, should b.e> charged those able to pay. Ho recommends that the fees be. increased to cover the full cost- of maintainance and treatment of patients in the public hospital, Boards should retain the power of remitting the whole, or part of the fees in the case of anv patient unable to pay. It is. suggested that hospital boards and the Department of Health take into consideration .the important question of so extending the operations of public hospitals as to adequately serve all classes of the community. There was a tendency towards the .establishment of private rooms and semi-private wards in the. main hioisniit-al. These

could be miade ns of-by patients willing to- pay for them. A workable scheme could, the commissioner thought. be gradually evolved whereby patients in public hospitals could b-e treated, if desired by their own private, practitioner. !f the honorary medical staff are tobe continued, further provision might be. made that for treatment, ai o-exa-tio-ii patients _ able to- nay should nay to the physician or surgeon a. moderate Pee in accordance with the agreed scale.