DEFICIT £13,266.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 248, 19 October 1937, Page 8

DEFICIT £13,266.

AUCKLAND HOSPITAL.

FIGURES FOR SIX MONTHS. HIGHER WAGES, RISING PRICES. A net deficiency of £13,20(1 for the six months ended September :50 is revealed in a report submitted to a meeting of the Auckland Hospital Board this afternoon. Ordinary- receipts were short of the estimates by £.'M)IS. The not deficiency at the same time last year was £1)..-,.f.5. J The actual pa \ merits closely approximate Hie estimates, except for the I Auckland Hospital and Auckland In- | liiiuaiy. stated the report. In both casos tlic excess payments were due to increased stalTs and wages, together with vising price*. Keoeipts this year had been estimated right up to the hi!t. in onk-r to keep the levy down, but it was anticipated that there would be no deficiency at llie end of Ihe year. As compared with the actual receipts at the same time last year, the receipts in respect to all patients' fees for this year were greater by £j:HM>. This year there has been an invreaso 'n the eoit <> r patients treated, amounting to 1:2 l!t/:5 per patient, the figures indicating the effect of rising costs. ledueed hours and increased wages. The board, apart from exercising strictest economy, hud no means of combating the inevitable increase, which could safely be fixed at a permanent ) \<c of 25 per cent. In the circumstance* it would appear necessary for consideration to be given to the need for an increase in patients' fees of a similar percentage, from 12/ to 1«»/ a day. Even those figures would not cover the cost of maintenance.