HOSPITAL FEES INCREASED.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 73, 27 March 1922, Page 11

HOSPITAL FEES INCREASED.

AUCKLAND AXD WELLINGTON.

The decision of the Auckland Hospital" Board st its last meeting to increase thehospital fees to patients to 9/ per day for adult patients and 4/li for children under 12 years, has been followed by a simi'ar decision by the Welington Board, which has adopted the same scale. The scale i.s the same as suggested by the Hospital Commission and approved by ' the Director-General in his circular let- ' ter dated the ISth March. The Finance Committee of the Auckland Board has been empowered to call a conference of friendly societies or their representatives, to discuss tbe question of increase of foes' to members of their societies. Up till the present the daily charge has been the very low one of 2/3 per day, and half tliat for children, to those in good standing with their lodges. The amount suggested as an increase is half the rates charged to ordinary patients. Kor a long period the charge to ordinary patients has been 6/6 per day, but this ■ was considerably less than the actual cost of maintenance. Tlie new charges j will come into force immediately, a_ it lis felt that those who can pay will be I very willing to pay the new rate, and to : those who are unable to pay the full I rate will still just pay what their eir- ! cumstances will permit. There are many I members of the Board who have cxi pressed the hope\ that the hospital rate may recede again to one-fifth ofyt penny iin the £ on the capital value, as with jtlie financial stringency existing all over I tho country it is very hard to find ! money to pay the rates, and any relief in the direction indicated will help to lighten the burden.