HOSPITAL BOARD AND CLUB

Taranaki Daily News, 11 October 1929, Page 9

HOSPITAL BOARD AND CLUB

PATIENTS TREATED AT HOME. WARM PROTEST FROM B.M.A. By Telegraph.—l’ress Association. Hamilton, Last Night. The question whether hospital boards are entitled to arrange medical treatment of patients in their own homes was raised in a letter received by the .Waikato Hospital Board to-day from the council of the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association. The council protested against an agreement recently arranged between the board and the Huntly Medical Club. The latter states: “The proposal, it appears, is to charge each member of the Huntly iMedical Club a subscription. According to the amount paid the board is to supply one or two doctors, who will attend members and take charge of the Huntly hospital under the supervision of the superintendent of the Waikato hospital.” The letter protests at “this proposed interference with private practice,” and states that the medical association branch “will spare no effort to resist to the utmost limit this proposed encroachment upon the rights of duly qualified medical practitioners. The council affirms the principle that the medical officer appointed for the Huntly hospital should be free to make his own financial arrangements for tho attendance of members of societies and other patients without restrictions by or reference to the hospital board.” Free out-door treatment of members of a medical club was without precedent in New Zealand, it was said, and it needed careful consideration. Dr. Watt, assistant director of health, attended the meeting, also Mr. E. George, president of the Huntly Medical Club.° ’ On tho motion of the chairman, Mr. Campbell, the hospital board went into committee to discuss the matter, several members protesting that the matter was one of public interest. Tho board resolved to invite the B.M.A. and Huntly representatives to a conference. Several members interviewed subsequently pointed out that the Minister of Health had been present when the agreement with the Huntly people was arranged. They expressed determination Sot to be dictated to by the B.M.A.