Patea & Waverley Press WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 1932 A FALSE ECONOMY.

Patea Mail, Volume LIII, 9 March 1932, Page 2

Patea & Waverley Press WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 1932 A FALSE ECONOMY.

THERE is an old saying that it is of very little use closing the stable door after the steed has escaped. The people of this country would be wise to bear this fact in mind and use their best endeavours to prevent the ultrarevolutionary proposals put forward by Dr, Begg with regard to the public hospitals of the Dominion being carried into effect before it is too late. There is a very real danger that the Government, in a panic-stricken desire to effect economies, may clutch at the straw held out by Dr. Begg and do irreparable harm by closing hospitals that exist wholly and solely for the relief of suffering humanity. The bait held out to the Government to induce them to act as Dr. Begg suggests is the sum of half a million pounds, which it is claimed could be saved if Dr. Begg’s scheme were adopted. A moment’s reflection, however, will convince anyone that the claim is absurd. If 54 out of the 72 public hospitals were to be closed down to-mor-row without the patients, nurses, and doctors being transferred elsewhere, but left to fend for themselves, only, something . like half the amount claimed would be saved. But it should be borne in mind that hospitals exist wholly and solely for the relief of the suffering, and not as money-mak-ing or money-saving institutions. The question of pounds, shillings, and pence should not be allowed to outweigh the question of relieving the sick. Another claim put forward in favour of Dr. Begg’s scheme is that there will be greater efficiency with regard to hospital management under the new scheme. This would appear to be nothing short of a reflection on those controlling the hospitals at the present time. If greater efficiency is needed, it is for those in authority to point out where this can be effected. If by greater efficiency it is meant that provision be made in the hospitals in the four main centres for special ailments, then by all means let this greater efficiency be brought about, but to suggest that no greater efficiency with regard to the treatment of the sick can be brought about without closing the various hospitals and sending the patients to the main centres of the Dominion is absurd on the face of it. Common humanity demands that hospitals be provided and the cost should under no circumstances be the primary consideration. If it were then there would be nothing to prevent Hospital Boards giving patients prison fare and the minimum of attention and care, with the result that the institutions would be a disgrace to humanity. As a matter of fact, the hospitals of New Zealand are managed as well as any in the 'world. This been proved over and over again _ by the reports of eminent medical men from overseas, who have visited them and the reports of New Zealand medical authorities who have visited other lands and compared the management Bf hospitals there with those in this country.- This being the case, why not let well alone and en- ' deavour to save half a million of the country’s money by # other 1 means than interfering with the

care of the sick. There can be no question that to adopt the suggestion put forward by Dr. Begg would Jbe false economy and nothing else.