Board Approval “Farcical”

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30808, 21 July 1965, Page 3

Board Approval “Farcical”

(New Zealand Press Association) NEW PLYMOUTH, July 20. Health Department approval for hospital board minor expenditure was “farcical,” the Taranaki Hospital Board chairman, Mr H. E. Blyde, said at today’s board meeting in New Plymouth.

He was protesting at a Health Department letter criticising the board for incurring some minor capital expenditure without authority. To think all hospital boards had to get permission, supposedly from the Minister of Health, for minor expenditure was absurd, Mr Blyde said. “We cannot even buy a stove or a heater without authority. Surely hospital boards can be trusted in these matters. We would not incur this expenditure if it wasn’t necessary.” The Health Department's argument was that boards should put such things in capital expenditure estimates, “but we don’t know if or when such things will come up, said Mr Blyde. It was like using “a steam hammer to crack nuts” to have to go

through the Health Department for minor items. The board should have authority to spend up to £5O without having to get approval. It was absurd to have to get approval for Items costtnig £lO, Mr Blyde said. As it was a national matter, the board decided to take it up with the Hospital Boards’ Association. A letter will also be sent to the Health Department.