HOSPITAL ORGANISATION

Taranaki Daily News, 28 August 1930, Page 11

HOSPITAL ORGANISATION

DR. BEGG'S- STRICTURES .SCOUTED. By Telegraph:—Press' Association. Hamilton, Last-Night. Dr. M. M. Hockin, medical superintendent of the Waikato Hospital, commenting on Dr. Campbell Begg’s remarks concerning hospitals in New Zealand said as far as the Waikato Hospital was concerned the supervision ovei’ the work of the junior medical officers was adequate, and as far as the nursing staff went it was eminently satisfactory and excellently run. The New Zealand trained nurse was equal, and in most cases superior to any in the world. The purchasing of equipment on the advice of superintendents, without reference to the specialists concerned, as maintained by Dr. Begg, was characterised as incorrect by Dr. Hockin. The remarks concerning chronic cases were partly true, although attempts were made wherever possible to segregate. The question of .separating infectious cases from general’ superintendence was a, moot point. The average stay of a patient in hospital was certainly too long, but this was caused through lack of suitable convalescent homes, necessitating people staying longer in hospital and thus taking up valuable space. As far as the Waikato Hospital Board was concerned, Dr. Hockin said, there was no lack of co-operation between board and staff, and the board always gave every assistance. He was quite sure that there was not a member of the board who was not keenly interested in the administration of the hospital. Dr. Hockin mentioned that he had never seen any evidence of political pull or feeling of any kind whatsoever.