CRITICISM OF HOSPITALS

Taranaki Daily News, 28 August 1930, Page 11

CRITICISM OF HOSPITALS

VARIED COMMENTS ON DR, BEGG. "GLARING DEFECTS IN SYSTEM.” By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Aug. 27. Dr. Campbell Begg’s criticism of the Dominion hospital "control system met with varied comment in Auckland. Mr. Wallace, chairman of the Auckland Hospital Board, said Dr. Beggs statements were absolute rubbish and the proposals the most . undemocratic Mi’. Wallace had ever heard. Dr. Maguire, the hospital superintendent,'after denying that a . number of. conditions complained .of , ; by Dr.. Begg existed in the Auckland hospital, said he was afraid Dr. Begg was up against a stone wall when he talked of taking the control of hospitals away from local bodies. Dr. Gunson, a member of the board, agreed that the average stay of the patients iu hospital was far too long, arid also with Dr. Begg’s remarks regarding infectious wards. With the glaring defects in the system enough changes could be made without turning things upside down. REMOVAL FROM POLITICS. ORGANISATION AT DUNEDIN. Dunedin, Aug. 27. Mr. W. D. S. Knight, chairman of the Otago Board, said he agreed the hospital question should be removed from the sphere of politics. Many instances could be cited where politics had been introduced with disadvantage to system in the Dominion. Referring to Dr. Begg’s statement that the New Zealand control system had been universally. abandoned elsewhere Mr. Knight doubted whether New Zealand’s actual system had been tried elsewhere. There was certainly no lack of co-operation between the staff and the Otago Board, and its recent bylaw’s had a close affinity to what Dr. Begg said he was aiming at. In the Dunedin hospital the staff was always consulted where equipment was purchased or an addition planned. Every endeavour was also made to classify the cases but to do this completely would involve heavy capital expenditure. \ After traversing other points Mr. Knight said the organisation of a medical board was in existence in the Dunedin hospital.