TO TEAS – £800 !

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 19, 24 January 1939, Page 13

TO TEAS - £800 !

HOSPITAL COSTS. SAVING ALREADY MADE. ECONOMY SUGGESTIONS ASKED. Morning and afternoon teas cost the Auckland Hospital Board £800 a year! This information was given bv Mr. J. H. Kinnear at the board meeting last night in a discussion arising out of a motion by Mr. J. Savegh that departmental heads should be asked to make suggestions to the board regarding savings that could 'be made in various departments. Discussion on the question was vigorous, members stressing the fact that the board kept a keen eye on the expenditure, but that further savings could be made with the co-operation of the staff. Mr. Savegli said that a good deal of criticism was levelled at the board on the grounds of expenditure, and he wanted to see that every opportunity was taken to introduce economics. He did not wish those economics to take the form of reducing staff, but he thought that in other ways it might be possible to save. "There lias been gross extravagance in the Auckland Hospital Board." declared the chairman. Mr. A. J. Moody. He pointed to various economies that had already been effected. The orderly staff had been reduced from 106 to 97; that was. one instance. There were other questions into which he was inquiring. He had learned, for instance, that five pints of milk a day was provided for the engineers and stokers. That seemed extraordinary. Then there was waste in bread, and in afternoon teas. "It's a wonder some of them don't blow up with the amount of tea they drink," he said. Dietitian's Opinion. Asked to comment on the question, Miss A. J. Ross, diet supervisor, said that the question of morning teas particularly bad to be taken carefully. If it was not provided some of the staff might help themselves in the wards. But, in addition to that factor, there was also the fact that some of the staff started at 6.30 a.m. It was a long time between then, and mid-day without a meal. There were, however, matters associated with the supply that could be inquired into. Dr. J. P. Hastings said that many medical men were of the opinion that more work was done when morning tea was provided. Mr. Sayegh's motion was carried, but there was further reference to economies when Miss Ross was reporting on her recent visit to England. She referred to labour-saving devices, that also saved money, and suggested that some of them might be useful to the Auckland Hospital. Modern equipment could be furnished now and be incorporated later in the new hospital.

"Equipment, and modern equipment, that will effect economies," the said.