HOSPITALS COMMISSION

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume 49, Issue 7742, 11 July 1921, Page 4

HOSPITALS COMMISSION

KE! J 0 K T N 0 W AV A 1 LA BLE

il>r Press A—••.•n-(Ve>vrii!lii.i Wellington, fuly IE The Minister cf Health has made avr.il ihl" a report of the Commission which recently inquired into hospital finance, ccntrol, etc. The findings cf the Commission are: Thai the Government Huuld ecut;;bnta one-half of th? lajital ro quir d ff Hospital Boards, and Urn. l'he bads of such contributions ■hon’d be a fiat rate subsidy of Tiler £1 on capital expeiuliture and on interest on loans current in rasp, to capital expenditure. That the Government should subsidise voluntary contributions to Hospital Boards for general mainten, nee purposes, approved by the Minister, at the rate of £1 tor £l. That a uniform foe of £3,3 - for adults and £l/11/6 for children under fourteen years of age should be charged for maintenance and treatment in public hospitals, the Beards to have permission to reduc? fees in ncccssrlious cases.

That a Hospital Supp’ies Purchase Board should hr constiuited under the Health Department, compost'd of one responsible officer appointed, bv each of the four has? Hospital Boarc.L, one from the Health Department, one from the Mental Department, and two businessmen nominated by the Minister. That hospital equipment supplies, when* possible, should be standardise:! with a view to economical buying bv placing combined orders for delivery at the centres required. That two inspecting accountants should be appointed at once to introduce a uniform system of ac■oums“and mums.

•That with a vi.-w to as-wiring the nost eMcienl design and const melon of hospital; and. standardising of buildings, where possible, a qualified architect should be appointed. The commission also recommends that hospital boards take over the ,'iilir? 1 esponsibility of the care of the t'-k by establishing private ■>a-<.‘ng wards attached to public >ospTals, al\> private maternity van’.;.

The commission recommends the nudgamaiion of the Waihi and 'hames districts.