HOSPITAL COSTS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 131, 15 March 1933, Page 3

HOSPITAL COSTS.

TIMARU RECOMMENDATIONS ADOPTED BY BOROUGH COUNCIL (Bpecial to the "Guardian.") TIMARU, March 14. Five recommendations relative to the reduction of hospital costs were submitted to a meeting of the Timaru Borough Council last evening by Councillors G. Benstead, W. H. Hunt and H. J. Mathers, who represented the council at a conference of local contributing bodies and , the Hospital Board last Friday. Tlio recommendations were: — (1) That this meeting impresses upon the Hospital Board the necessity for the strictest economy in view of the burden of its requirements upon the rates, and suggests that the board explore every avenue by which such economies can be effected. (2) That the transfer of the board's office .to tho iiospital be referred to the board for consideration. (3) That the Health Department be asked what has been the fate of the scheme of combined purchasing of hospital supplies the full details of which were completed and the machinery set up some time ago. (4) That it be a recommendation to the Health Department tlie merits of the nominative system of election of members to hospital boards and its applicability to boards as a whole. (5) That, whilst recognising the principal that, as far as possible, hospital services should be available to all, yet the time is not opportune' for the expenditure of money on the erection of private wards; and that the question of a return to the system of honorary staffing is such a contentious one that it is trusted that no steps be taken without serious consideration.