CONTROL OF HOSPITALS

Taranaki Daily News, 9 March 1932, Page 9

CONTROL OF HOSPITALS

INTERESTS OF RATEPAYERS

DR. CAMPBELL BEGG’S SCHEME.

EGMONT COUNTY DISCUSSION.

The hospital re-organisation scheme recommended by Dr. Campbell Begg was briefly discussed by members of the Egmont County Council yesterday, when it was decided to defer a decision until the attitude of the Taranaki Hospital Board, of which the district is a contributing body, is known.

The discussion arose on the receipt of a resolution from the Hawera Hospital Board entering an emphatic protest against the attempt being made by Dr. Begg and fostered by the Wellington Hospital Board to hasten legislation towards the adoption of a “complicated scheme of hospital re-organ-isation at a time like the present, when funds were not available to meet the enormous increase in capital expenditure that would be required to put the scheme into operation.” The chairman, Mr. W. C. Green, said the council was not a hospital board. Cr. Young said that the Taranaki Hospital Board had also turned the recommendation down.

Cr. Tosland pointed out that the council was being approached as one of the contributing bodies, which had to find the funds for hospital maintenance. At one time he had objected to the Egmont County paying £2OO a month to the Taranaki hospital at New Plymouth when only seven patients from the Egmont County used the hospital. Now, however, as many as 14 or 15 patients from the district at one time used the hospital, and now that they were getting the benefit of the hospital rate he did not mind paying it. However, he would not like to see a change introduced in the nature of an experiment, from which they might find themselves no better off in service but a lot worse off in pocket. He understood the proposal was to amalgamate Hawera and Stratford with New Plymouth. The chairman said that he did not know much about the proposal, but if it benefitted the ratepayers as a whole the council should support it, apart from any local considerations. He did not think the Government intended to adopt the recommendation of Dr. Begg. The chairman said that if any change were made it would probably mean. additional expenditure, and some one would have to shoulder the burden. If there was a guarantee that the rates would go down the council should back the proposal. His idea, however, was that big units were no good in anything, either in business or Government. In fact, they became nothing more or less than benevolent homes for a lot of loafers, whereas with small units the heads had to work to show results. Such large units meant many more highly paid men. He did not think any man at present was worth £3OOO to £4OOO per annum, or indeed £l5OO per annum. There were plenty of capable young men who could be secured at half the price, whereas the highly paid men in some cases were inclined to loaf or dictate. While he had. a lot of sympathy with the Hawera Board, the chairman pointed out that the Egmont County Council was a contributing body to the Taranaki Hospital Board and therefore should not pass a resolution on the matter until it knew the views of the Taranaki Hospital Board. . ' Cr. Young said the board had considered the matter at its last meeting but it would probably come up again at the next meeting. Cr. Collins considered that the idea of Dr. Campbell Begg was to endeavour to give better service at lower cost to the ratepayrs. He did not desire .to. create big units, nor highly paid positions. He wished to have fewer central hospitals with a view to keeping down costs. It was a deep-rooted question that required very careful consideration as councillors were always asking for the lowering of. costs in connection with hospital administration. They should therefore await the views of their own hospital board before passing a resolution.

Cr. Young said that as far as the Taranaki Hospital Board was concerned, they need not fear that the rates would be excessive. He remarked that the idea prevalent in London was that it was not conomical to have hospitals of over 300 beds. Cr. Shepherd: There are over 300 beds in some New Zealand hospitals. He pointed out that his experience was that while a man might be a good doctor he might not be a good businessman. It was resolved to defer consideration until the attitude of the Taranaki Hospital, was ■ known.