HOSPITAL BOARDS

Southland Times, Issue 21661, 24 March 1932, Page 7

HOSPITAL BOARDS

QUESTION OF CONTROL CIRCULAR SENT OUT WELLINGTON AGGRIEVED (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, March 23. Allegations that the New Zealand Hospital Boards’ Association had issued a circular to affiliated boards upon the Wellington proposal for a ‘‘Board of Hospitals,” but had omitted Wellington hospital from the distribution, were made at the Wellington Hospital Board meeting this afternoon. The board took a serious view of the omission and Dr Campbell Begg proposed and the chairman of the board, Mr I. Castle, seconded a motion which was car ried unanimously:—(l) That the board write to the secretary of the Hospital Boards’ Association and president and inquire why the circular was sent out in regard to the Wellington Board’s proposals for hospital board reorganization without consulting the available members of the executive, including the chairman of the Wellington Hospital Board; (2) Whether the circular was sent out to a number of selected hospital boards or if not, what boards were omitted in addition to the Wellington board; (3) Whether any attempt was made to inform the chairman of the Wellington Board that the president of the Hospital Boards’ Association intended to interview the Prime Minister and Minister of Health in order that the Wellington Hospital Board would have an opportunity of putting its own views forward; (4) What was .tire intention of the president of the Association in recommending the boards to approach their members of Parliament in regard to the proposals, after the matter had already been placed before the Government by Mr W. 'Wallace, its president, and that, a special meeting of the board be convened on April 6 to consider what further steps should be taken in regard to the future relation of that board to the. Hospital' Boards’ Association and to itspresident ? , The matter was introduced by the chairman of the board who said that the circular which was dated February 26 had already been sent to all boards, but a copy had not been sent to the. Wellington Board. That almost amounted to discourtesy. As a subscribing association, the Wellington Hospital Board had equal rights with other boards. Mr C. M. Luke also deplored the situation.

Dr Campbell Begg quoted from a report of a meeting of the Wanganui Hospital Board which stated: “A letter was received from the Hospital Boards’ Association, stating that the proposals would have the effect of materially altering the existing hospital system and that they must not lie introduced into Parliament until individual hospital boards had ample time and opportunity to fully consider them. The association asked the Wanganui Hospital Board to forward a protest to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Health against any legislation being introduced of the nature of the proposals until the Hospital Board had deliberated on them at a conference to be held probably in June. next. The ‘Board of Hospitals’ suggested in the proposals would assume control of the powers which the act had vested in elected members of hospital boards and of I arliament.” In view of the facts. Dr Begg said he thought that the board should ascertain under what circumstances the circular had been sent out and then consider what kind of action it was to take in the future. He then moved the motion which was carried unanimously.