Hospital Board ‘has only itself to blame’

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33934, 29 August 1975, Page 10

Hospital Board ‘has only itself to blame’

The North Canterbury Hospital Board had only itself to blame if it had insufficient funds to operate, the Minister of Health (Mr McGuigan) said last evening. But a board member does not agree.

At a meeting on April 15 the discussion centred on the inadequacy of finance allocated to the board to carry out the cost of running the Christchurch Clinical School. Mr McGuigan said from Wellington. He was commenting on a report in "The Press” yesterday which said that in the first four months of this year the board had overspent its basic allocation by $260,000. Mr McGuigan said that board members were assured that any increased assistance they needed would be given consideration. “The meeting concluded with the board representatives clearly understanding that the onus was with the board to put forward its proposal. So far no proposal has been received." said Mr McGuigan.

NOT BOARD S FAULT Mr C. F. Whittv, chairman of the finance committee of the board, said last evening that he did not think it was the boat is fault that it was in financial difficulty. Mr Whitty said that it was unseen costs that had caused the difficulty. This involved large shipments of bandages and drugs that had been ordered up to 18 months ago and which arrived in one shipment. High bed occupancy. high laundry' costs and training extra staff for the new buildings had all added to the increased costs. "The board is only short of funds for patient care,” said Mr Whitty. Mr McGuigan also blamed the board for not getting a commissioning grant which would enable it to open a new ward at the Princess Margaret Hospital. •

“The statement that they would not be able to finance the opening of the building until next year because of an absence of a commissioning grant is complete nonsense." said Mr McGuigan.

“The simple explanation is that the board omitted to reply in time to the Health Department’s request last November for details of its requirements for new commissioning.

“This year no provision was made for the new service at Princess Margaret Hospital,” said Mr McGuigan. “In June of this year, however, the board simply wrote to the department asking for $182,000. The department pointed out that it had no funds specifically set aside [for this proposal and that the board should re-examine its proposed staffing schedule. “It is intended that when the board advises the department of these proposals, favourable consideration will be given to allocation of additional funds,” said Mr McGuigan. Neither the department nor the Minister were to blame for the ommission of a grant, said Mr McGuigan. Mr Whittv said the delay in applying for the grant was caused by a letter going astray between the board’s accountant and the board’s office. But he felt that this was no excuse for not getting the grant. “It was certainly the fault of someone, but I still feel that we should not be turned down,” said Mr Whitty. Without the grant the building would have to re!main closed until next year.