RETURN TO CHATHAMS

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30480, 30 June 1964, Page 8

RETURN TO CHATHAMS

No Change In Policy (Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, June 29.

A departure from policy on the cost of patients returning to their homes from hospital is not justified, says the* Minister of Health (Mr 'McKay) in a written Parliamentary reply to a question from Mr N. E. Kirk (Opp., Lyttelton). Mr Kirk had asked him to consider payment as of right of the cost of return transport for Chatham Islands hospital patients sent to mainland hospitals, so as to ensure residents there ■ have the same rights in inter-hospital transfer as those enjoyed by other New Zealanders.

Mr McKay replies that the standard policy applying to all hospital board districts is that cost of transport to hospital is not a charge on Government funds. Where a hospital transfer is required on medical grounds the cost is met by the board sending the patient, in the case of the Chatham Islands, the North Canterbury Hospital Board.

On discharge, the patient, must meet the cost of returning home, except where he has been referred to another board’s district. In that case the board may meet the cost. “Hospital boards can and do assist financially in cases of need. A survey carried out last year indicated that the number of Chatham Island patients applying for such assistance was so small that a departure from the general policy was not justified,” he says.