Large Rise In Bed Cost Of Major Hospitals

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30740, 3 May 1965, Page 10

Large Rise In Bed Cost Of Major Hospitals

The maintenance cost of the Christchurch Hospital for each occupied bed a week during the year ended March 31 was about 14 per cent higher than in the previous year, according to the annual report of the board’s treasurer (Mr J. J. Morgan). The daily occupied bed cost at the hospital was £59 3s 2d last financial year, compared with £5l 18s 8d the preceding year, and £4B 16s 3d in 1962-63.

For the Princess Margaret Hospital the figures were £52 17s Id for 1964-65, £49 16s 2d for 1963-64, and £44 10s 8d for 1962-63.

The most costly hospital for each occupied bed last year was the Chatham Islands Hospital, which cost £194 12s lOd a week—considerably less, however, than in either of the two preceding years. The next most costly was the Akaroa

Hospital (£l2O 10s 9d). followed by the Cheviot Hospital (£B7 19s), and the Lyttelton Hospital (£77 Ils 8d). Last year the most costly hospitals, in descending order of cost, were the Chatham Islands Hospital, Cheviot Hospital, Akaroa Hospital, and Lyttelton Hospital. The cost at St. Helens Hospital last year was £6B 17s Id, the highest figure for any of the large hospitals of the board.

The most economical hospital to run was the Oxford Hospital (£3O 6s lid), followed by the Coronation Hospital (£3l 5s sd) and Burwood Hospital (£37 2s sd). The cost of the Huntsbury Children’s Home fell to £lO 10s 4d from £l4 5s 8d the previous year. The average number of occupied beds at the home rose from 12.4 in 1963-64 to 17.6 last year.