ALLOWANCE FOR HOSPITALS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22434, 22 June 1938, Page 10

ALLOWANCE FOR HOSPITALS

SOCIAL SECURITY PAYMENT

TREATMENT OP PATIENTS UNDER PLAN

The amount that the Government proposed to allow hospital boards for the treatment of patients under its social security plan was mentioned by Mr A. H. Nordmeyer, M.P., in a public address at Ashburton last evening. Mr Nordmeyer was chairman of the special Parliamentary committee appointed to hear evidence on the proposal. Mr Nordmeyer said that the Government scheme provided that hospital boards would receive 6s a day for each patient. The average amount col-, lected by hospital boards in New Zealand was 2s 8d daily for each bed. At the Ashburton Hospital, patients’ fees averaged 3s 3d a day for each bed. He claimed that under the Government’s proposal, hospital boards would be paid an extra £400,000 a year, plus £40,000 for maternity patients. In addition, boards would be saved £IOO,OOO a year in charitable aid payments, making a total of about . £550.000, which would be spread V between the contributing bodies. By this saving, the rate on local bodies should fall by about onethird. Mr Nordmeyer said that patients who desired to go to private hospitals would also receive the benefit of 6s a day for their treatment. The Mayor (Dr. G. I. Miller) presided over an attendance of about 400. On the motion of Mr A. Beck, a resolution was carried to the effect that the meeting was impressed with the scope of the proposals and it had confidence in the Government’s administration.