SOME CRITICISM

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20465, 4 April 1938, Page 8

SOME CRITICISM

CARE OF THE POOR HAMILTON DOCTOR’B VIEWS FURTHER INQUIRY NEEDED What he thought would probably constitute the views of the majority of members of the medical profession regarding the new’ free and universal i health service proposed by the Government were expressed by a Hamilton general practitioner to a Waikato Times reporter to-day. Although the profession recognised the scheme to be beneficial it considered that the people of New Zealand had in the past been well looked after by the general practitioners and the nursing-homes. Schemes for the provision of free services had not proved the success that was anticipated and in the latest proposals the Government had failed to consider the future of certain sections of the community and of the medical profession. It was deemed essential that before the plan was brought into force that the parties concerned should meet in order to discuss any matters which had so far | been overlooked. Not Denied Attention i “ The provision or medical benefits i for the people is a necessity and estab- > lishment of a free and universal health I service is an excellent scheme when the public cannot afford to pay for such necessities,” said the speaker. “ I imagine that a big proportion of the New Zealand public as recipients under the scheme will refuse to use it. I cannot imagine that in the past the poor of the Dominion has been denied medical attention when necessary. For example, about £20,000 was spent in providing facilities for the Huntly residents. The whole scheme proved to be a white elephant. The CampbellJohnstone ward at the Waikato Hospital was built for expectant mothers who were supposed not to be able to afford maternity benefits. But the medical profession in outside practice continues to attend free of charge, where it is necessary, cases of hardship or of poverty and the distriot nursing homes give the same attention to the non-paving patients as they do to the paying inmates.” Hope was expressed by the doctor that under the Government scheme of free medical benefits, superannuation and increased pensions that the sum of one shilling in the pound would be found sufficient for remuneration to the medical profession. “ At this stage,” stated the doctor, “ I wonder what is going to happen to the unemployed, who presumably up to the present, have needed the 8d in the pound and the £1 a year. Are j they to be thrown overboard or are j they to be absorbed by an extension ' of productive and non-productive pub- ! lie works, financed on borrowed money?” Making People Dlseaso-mlnded? “ Has the Government considered that the public hospital accommodation in New Zealand will have to be doubled or perhaps trebled? it merely concerned with making New Zealanders disease-minded instead of ! putting its governemtal energies into the building of a sturdier race by means of eugenic principles and by the •cultivation of the body and increased culture of the mind from youth upwards?” “ Has the Government made provision for the services of the specialist, who plays a greater part in medical 1 services than the man in the street might expect?” the speaker asked. ; He pointed out that the medical pro- ' fession in New Zealand had promised the Government its full co-operation |! in principle but it still thought that - further consultation between the two parties was necessary before the scheme was finalised.