HOSPITALS REFORM

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17947, 26 November 1932, Page 8

HOSPITALS REFORM

THE AMENDING BILL

DISCUSSION IN COMMITTEE (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. Discussing the Hospitals and (Tnirilahio Institutions Amendment Bill in committee in the House of Representatives to-dav, Mr. Ai. I. Bnvagc (Labor, Auckland W.) again drew atlent.ion to the danger of a number of country hospitals hieing closed and the services being restricted, by Ovder-in-Oouncil. Mr. P. Eraser (Labor, Wellington C.) said he desired in no way to oppose any step in the direction of effecting economy so long' as efficiency was not impaired, but he urged that every opportunity should be given the districts concerned to make lull representations before any institutions wore closed. Mr. A. If. .Samuel (Coal., Thames) said he regretted the Minister was proceeding with the committee stu.w.c before hospital boards had had an opportunity of submitting their views on the proposals,contained in the bill. This view was supported by Mr. A. S. Richards (Labor, Roskill). Mr. Savage look exception to the ! “ back door” means of closing hos- | pitals. Tie said that, if the Minister i desired to close the last it ill ions,, he ' should do so by means of legislation. finis placing members in a position of j knowing what they were voting forj MINISTER'S EXPLANATION The Hon. .T. A. Young said I lie bill ‘was designed to meet a need which had been before the country for six years. He pointed out that the Hospital Board ’s Association, whichyepre- . rented every Hospital Board, in the : country, had approved the proposals in the'bill. Those proposals had also been communicated by circular .lott<• t to everv Hospital Board in the Dominion. ' The boards had made certain representations to him, in consequence jof which some concession had been granted and some safeguards included, lie regarded the programme outlined in the bill as an excellent way to meet a difficult situation. Mr. D. G. Etillivan (Labor, Avon): What are you really aiming at? The Minister said he desired to bring about such changes as were required from time to time in an equitable and above-board way. He again .outlined the steps which would have ; to be taken before any institution was closed, or any services curtailed, i Gontinviiug, the Minister said tlieie ■was no thought in' his mind that any ' one of the 45 hospital districts should be closed down, but, at the same time, there was a certain amount ol overlapping of services, and it was possible that by co-operation or amalgamation it would be possible to eliminate this overlapping and in this way maintain, .the same standard of effi-

ciency at a lower cost. The short title of the bill, was still under consideration when progress was reported. ______