LIMIT FAVOURED

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21415, 8 May 1941, Page 6

LIMIT FAVOURED

FREE HOSPITAL SERVICE {DEMANDS ON ACCOMMODATION FULL PROVISION IMPOSSIBLE Surveying the past year’s work at the Waikato Hospital Board meeting today, the chairman, Mr F. Findlay, said he would term the past three years as “the peak” for most of the large hospitals, including Waikato. Matamata district’s troubles had been overcome, at last, but the two main hospitals under the Board’s control, Waikato and Rotorua, were experiencing many difficulties. An increasing number of people was demanding admittance to hospital for treatment, and its was simply impossible to cater for them. The superintendent and staff were rendering splendid service, but there was a limit even to their capacity. At the Waikato Hospital conditions were becoming “really terrible,” with so many wanting admission and attention. In his opinion, said Mr Findlay, tjie Government of the day had been wrong providing that everybody could go to hospital for his ailments. There should have been a limit set, perhaps on the score of money or property. Perhaps wage earners receiving more than £3OO per annum could be debarred, at least for the present, owing to lack of accommodation and facilities. He knew of applicants for free treatment who could literally “buy and sell’’ a hospital. They naturally wanted the very best of service. Demand on Services Looking to the future, said Mr Findlay, he would say that there would continue to be a very heavy demand on all hospital services, and it was impossible to make tjie adequate provision required. It was no use the Government saying that the hospital boards should have planned for the onrush of applications. He remembered the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, when Minister of Health, telling the Waikato Hospital Board that he and the Government would not expect the hospital boards to shoulder the burden for extra accommodation, and .that it would be borne by the people as a whole. However, if that course were followed, hospitals would come under Government control entirely, and he (the Minister), did not think that would be desirable. As a Government institution, a hospital would not render such good service as under the present method of administration. With the Minister’s expressed views, said Mr Findlay, he was fully in accord. Hospital services in New Zealand generally were fully up to the standard of any other part of the world. However, if any change were proposed, he would urge that there first be convened a conference of hospital board representatives.