DOMINION HOSPITALS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 1 May 1926, Page 6

DOMINION HOSPITALS.

DR MACEAC'HERN’S REPORT. The interim summary report of Dr McEachcrn on the New Zealand hospital system has been issued, lie outlines a number of features of the present system 6 1< hospitals,»9 n " erallv throughout the dominion which are to he highly commended. These include assured finance. Generally speaking the hospital buildings are fairly good and.comfortable. The hospitals without, exception were found to be immaculately clean and well-kept. Ihe four metropolitan hospitals can rank with hospitals of their kind anywhere. . the education of nurses impi essed him favourably. lie advocates the encouragement of voluntary effort, and the stimulation of community interest. The existing Board oi Health might assume the dual tunetion of health and hospitals under the name of Dominion Board ot> Health and Hospitals. He recommends the reduction of the hospital districts, and the addition of pay wards, with provision for intermediate class patients with freedom to choose their own doctor. The lack of this he describes as the missing link in the hospital system.

Staffing. There should be a uniform policy. The stafline of full or part-time medical officers with dual responsibility, clinical and administrative, should be abolished, as it is entirely opposed to the highest quality ot medical services, us well us eiucient administration. He recommends that the stall ot each hospital should cmbraice as many as possible practising doctors in the community where the institution is located. Every hospital should have a complete staff of doctors giving l services gratuitously to necessitous patients. The appointment of an inspector or director of hospitals would be a great advantage. , _ ~ Maternity Cases and Incurables. Each hospital district should provide necessary accoinmocialion and services for maternity' patients. One of the honorary medical staff should be present at each confinement, so as to be for any emergency or complication. There should be special . institutions or departments for. chionic and incurable patients. A well-organised dietary department under the supervision of a competent dietician should be a part of each base hospital. Anacstetics. Arrangements for the administration of "anaesthetics should be improved by employing as far as possible experienced persons to give anaesthetics. Complete records or histories for all patients treated should be promptly and accurately compiled, and there should be a more careful planning of hospitals. A definite scheme should be worked out for the training' of hospital executives.