UPKEEP OF ASHBURTON HOSPITAL

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24076, 12 October 1943, Page 3

UPKEEP OF ASHBURTON HOSPITAL

BOARD CONCERNED AT INCREASED EXPENDITURE

“An interesting feature is the increase in the cost of running this institution,” said Mr C. A. Campion commenting on the half-yearly financial statement which was presented at a meeting of the Ashburton Hospital Board yesterday. He explained that the cost in the last four years had risen from £9661 to £16,568. “One wonders how much further we can go on at this rate without a crash—we can’t go on at this rate,” he added. Mr W. G. Gallagher said that it was just as well to warn’ the public of these facts, because the money for the running of the hospital was coming from New Zealand. “We have got to find it, whether by subsidy,'social security, or anything else,” he said. The chairman (Mr W. Bryant): I’m afraid it’s a thing we can’t avoid. According to the financial statement the payments for the six months ending September 30 amounted to £22,986 for maintenance and £31,603 for capital works. The period ended with a credit balance of £2053.

The secretary (Mr J. H. Chapman) stated in the report that the outstanding feature of expenditure to date was that, almost without exception, it was below the estimated figure for the period. In spite of the increase in expenditure, the fact that the board had carried on its activities over the last six months within its estimate placed it in a strong financial position. Ashburton Hospital expenditure was £2360 below the estimate (£18,928), Malvern Hospital was £126 below its estimate of £ll6O, and the Arawa Hospital expenditure exceeded the estimate (£737) by £ls. Of the capital expenditure, £28,146 was financed from the Loan and Building Fund, while the balance of £3458 was paid from ordinary funds. The sum of £2600 had been repaid to debenture holders.

The position regarding receipts was satisfactory. In some instances the actual receipts did not come up to the estimate, this being caused mainly by outstanding claims. The average daily occupied beds for the last six months were as follows; Public Hospital, 101.1; Malvern Home, 8.8; Arawa Home, 3.5. The estimated bed state in both maternity homes had been exceeded.

In his report the Medical Superintendent (Dr. A. J. Mason) said that 99 patients were admitted to the hospital last month and 90 were discharged, leaving 99 in hospital at the end of the month.

Statistics from maternity homes were:—Malvern: patients admitted last month, 26; discharged, 26; remaining, 11. Arawa: nine patients admitted, nine discharged, and six remaining.