ATTENTION FOR SICK

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 252, 23 September 1929, Page 3

ATTENTION FOR SICK

DOMINION’S HOSPITALS. During a debate in the House of Representatives last week concerning hospitals, Mr J. A. Nash (Palmerston) said that the question of community hospitals was first introduced into New Zealand by Dr. McEachen. “He came from the United States of America, and explained that community hospitals consisted of three bays. First of-all, there was a bay for those who could not pay; the second was for those who could pay just a moderate amount; and the third was for those who wanted private wards and could afford to pay any charge that was made, thus bringing about at once in a hospital system class distinction. As far as the proposals are concerned for the establishing of community hospitals, which we do not want in this country and which Dr McEachen said paid their way in America, I am quite satisfied that they would never pay their way in New Zealand. Moreover, they would • result in a loss to the taxpayer. Some three years ago, a Royal Commissioner was set up and it brought in the finding that every person had the right to the use of a hospital. There is the privilege of the use of the hospital, but there is not the privilege of having one’s own medical attendant. Today, we have in our hospitals an honorary staff. The hospitals are well provided with the best skill attainable in New Zealand, and no charge is made for the services of that noble profession. That being the case, why introduce a proposal such as that dealt with in the speech made by the Minister at Piilmerston North? The Minister delivered a very fine address on that occasion, but he, as a new Minister, without a knowledge of what had taken place in this House from time to time, could not be expected to know just what was the feeling of the members of the House who have been here for seme time on the question of hospital work in general. Having had over twenty years’ service as a member of a Hospital Board, I am quite satisfied that, as far as community hospitals are concerned, they will never be established in New Zealand.” HOUSE SURGEONS. Continuing, Mr Nash said that lie would ask the Minister to give his earnest attention to the shortage of house surgeons. “The hospital boards are finding themselves in a difficult position because of the difficulty of getting the necessary number of medical men for their staffs. It has been suggested that house surgeons should be imported from Australia, but Ido not think that is necessary. In the Otago Medical School we have one of the finest possible institutions, and every inducement should be given to the young men and women graduating from It to take up hospital work. The list of medical practitioners at the end of 1924 showed a total of 1204, and that for 1928 showed 1357. .Of the 85 admitted to practice in that year 67 were New Zealanders; in 1925, of 78 added to the list 59 were New Zealanders. In 1926 there were 94 medical practitioners added to the register, of whom 69 were New Zealanders. Out of ml practitioners added in 1927 38 were native-born, and in 1928 there were 45 added, of whom 30 were born in this country. These figures show that the number of medical men trained in Dunedin is diminishing, and that the position is becoming serious.” ST HELEN’S HOSPITALS. Reference ■ was also made to St. Helen’s hospitals. “It was suggested soma time ago that tire hospital boards should take over the> St. Helen’s hospitals,” said the speaker. “That was before the time of the present Minister of Health, but that, I think, is that gentleman’s policy. The St. Helen’s institutions have been a huge loss to the State, and they have been offered to the hospital boards for nothing, if they would take them over, but there seems to be a difficulty in that conneoetion. The present Director-General has advocated that maternity hospitals should be erected, and those institutions have been doing a very great service. We recently had one erected, and the rates that are being charged are such that it has been made possible for women to have every possible care and attention at a very low charge, whatever their husbands’ earnings may be. I suggest to the Minister that that sort of thing should be urgel all over New Zealand, because it would be in the interests of all concerned. DENTAL CLINICS.

“Tho matter of dental clinics is creating a good deal of discussion at the present time. ■ Take, for instance, the city of Wellington where the children are receiving the attention thej> should and compare it with a town in the country where possibly a clinic is placed at one particular school. . There may be seven or eight schools in that town, and it means that the country children cannot get the attention they deesrve. That difficulty could be got over by the establishment of an up-to-date clinic in a town of any size so that the children from the surrounding districts could be 6ent there say once a month. I know that there has been a shortage of nurses, and that the department has done wonderfully well up till now, but I think the children in the country could get the attention they are entitled to by the establishment of a clinic as I suggest.” %