PRIVATE HOSPITALS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 8277, 19 October 1905, Page 2

PRIVATE HOSPITALS.

Under the Private Hospitals Bill, brought down by Governor's Message, on Monday night, it is provided that such institutions must be licensed by the Governor, and anyone who conducts such a hospital without a license is liable to a fine not exceeding £50. No license will be granted until the hospital has been approved by the Inspector-General, and before granting the license the Minister must satisfy himself as to the character and fitness of the applicant. For every private hospital there must be a manager, who must be either a qualified medical practitioner or a registered nurse in the case of a surgical or medical hospital, or a qualified medical practitioner or a registered midwife in the case of a lying-in hospital. The manager of such a hospital will be required to give statutory notices of infectious diseases (including syphilis) and births and deaths. Further, a register of patients must be kept, the building must be open to inspection like ordinary hospitals, and it must only be used for the purpose for which it is licensed. Power is given to the Governor-in-Council to make regulations for the licensing, management, and inspection of private hospitals, and Minister is also empowered to cause ais_P. enquiry to be made into conduct of any private hospital, and, if he thinks fit, to revoke its license, in which case no new license shall be granted for a period of five years to the person whose license is revoked. '