HOSPITAL ECONOMIES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 142, 18 June 1932, Page 1 (Supplement)

HOSPITAL ECONOMIES.

“Conference,” like “deputation/* might be defined as a word that signifies many but does not necessarily signify much. Despite objections raised, on the ground of expense, to a national conference of the usual size being held to consider hospital economies, it will be observed that about a hundred delegates from hospital boards have gathered in Wellington. If, however, the conference really gets down to the problem of economy, and the Government acts upon its recommendations, many times more than tho cost of the gathering, which can hardly be less than £lOOO, will be saved, and it is encouraging to read that on the opening day tho confer* encc agreed that the number of hospital districts should be reduced and appointed a committee to consider ways and means. Such a reduction is part of tho necessary work of reform. There are forty-five hospital boards in the same number of districts, whose populations and hospitals vary greatly in size, and the Wellington proposal is to reduce this number to 18. But this kind of reorganisation is only half the battle. There must bo reorganisatioi within the hospitals themselves, so ai to put management on a business-lik< footing. It is significant that the Minister told the Conference that Rome hospitals economised, but some did not. The Conference should set up a small committee consisting of < doctor with hospital experience, an accountant, and someone with a thorough knowledge of the running of institutions, to visit the various hospitals, study their conditions and frame a system to be followed generally in the Dominion.—Auckland Star.