DOCTOR FOR HOSPITAL

Taranaki Daily News, 24 November 1934, Page 8

DOCTOR FOR HOSPITAL

NEW STRATFORD POLICY “NO INCREASE IN THE RATES.” CONTRADICTION OF RUMOURS. Contradiction of rumours regarding an increase in rates in the Stratford hospital district following the hospital board’s change of policy and the appointment of * a full-time medical superintendent was made by Mr. T. R. Anderson in a statement at a meeting of the board yesterday. The scheme would be beneficial from every point of view, he said. The public had some idea that the change would mean increased rates; the board was being asked questions by ratepayers, and they should be answered. “The Health Department,” said Mr. Anderson, “has shown that it desires the maternity annexe to be thrown open to outside medical practitioners and the same applies to the general hospital. We have had that from Dr. Shore, so despite what has been said at the board table in the past that point has at last been clearly established.” Mr. Anderson dealt with the advantages of the proposed system. It was an accepted axiom, he said, that before a major operation could be performed a consultation should be held. That had not been the usual practice at Stratford for the simple reason that only one doctor had been admitted to the hospital, the result being there was no one to consult unless another doctor were specially brought in. The admission of other doctors on terms yet to be decided would mean that the medical superintendent would have the facilities available to permit this to be done in future. The advantages of this were obvious. As' far as the maternity annexe was concerned, continued Mr. Anderson, Dr. Shore had stated clearly that whatever policy was followed in connection with the general hospital, the Health Department was anxious that a woman entering the annexe should be permitted to have her own doctor to attend her. That showed the board’s previous policy was at variance with that of the Health Departwent. “Now,” he proceeded, “some wonderful propaganda has been spread about, I am afraid not altogether from the finest of motives. An endeavour has been made to show the public that there will be a big increase in rates. I have no hesitation in saying that nothing of the kind will occur; if there is any increase at all it should not be large. REDUCTION IN EXPENDITURE. “Under a full time man, with more opportunity for organising, it is possible that reductions in expenditure may be made, as well as an increase in efficiency. At present the board is paying £585 a year for a part time superintendent. The new proposal is that £5OO be paid for a full time service, a saving of £B5 a year to begin with. Other hospitals have obtained a first class man at that figure, so why not Stratford? “It is proposed to provide a residence costing £lOOO, which can be borrowed at 3J per cent. Add to that 2J per cent, sinking fund and the figure is brought up to 6 per cent., which on £lOOO is £6O a year, or a total of £560. In the process we are building up an asset which the sinking fund will provide for. An alternative is to pay a house allowance of £75, which if follpwed would bring the total up to £575, a saving of £lO a year on the present position. Thus there will be no increase in rates there. “We hear about the big building programme contemplated at the hospital. Already there has been authorised alteration to provide a lecture room for the nurses. I want to make it clear that this has nothing to do with the appointment of the new superintendent. That was asked for long ago, before even the change of policy was brought about, and had to be done in any case.” Mr. Anderson said no big building programme was contemplated. It was thought the present accommodation might be utilised for whatever was necessary for the new superintendent and any reorganisation in that regard could be gone into by him when he took over. If anything more was needed it could be provided inexpensively, and as far as he could see would not make much, if any, difference to the rates. Mr. Anderson made it clear that it was not intended to provide a full time secretary with elaborate offices, as some people seemed to think. As far as extra staff was concerned, the nursing staff of the hospital was based on the number of patients. If there were an increase in patients it would be necessary to provide a bigger staff, but thbn there would be more revenue. Otherwise the staff would remain as it was. “I hope,” said the speaker in conclusion, “that this will effectively dispose of the rumours that have been circulated.” REALTONE TALKIES. “LADY FOR A DAY.” “Lady for a Day," Columbia’s 1934 special, will screen at Midhirst on Tuesday next. The story opens in Times Square, New York, where Apple Annie vends her wares to support a daughter in Europe. Pretending to her daughter that she is a society matron, Annie gets into difficulties when her daughter writes that she will visit America with her fiance and his father, a Spanish Count, who intends to check up on the family, pedigree. May Robson, “the grand old lady of the American stage,” attains her greatest success in fifty years of trouping as the apple vendor in “Lady For a Day. It is her greatest characterisation and one that will endear her to all. The picture has a natural unforced comedy. The characterisation of Ned Sparks, the drolleries of Guy Kibbee, the wise cracks of Glenda Farrell give the picture a lighthearted buoyancy that will make the smiles chase the tears in numerous sequences.