Private hospitals feel the pinch

Press, 17 January 1979, Page 6

Private hospitals feel the pinch

A “significant number” of New Zealand’s private surgical hospitals may be forced to close within the next five years.

Mr M. J. Woodward, an executive member of the New Zealand Private Hospitals’ Association, said in Christchurch yesterday that many private hospitals were seriously concerned about the cost of continuing surgical work.

Changing patterns of surgical treatment meant that the average stay for patients had been reduced from 12 days to four days during the last decade.

As well as the 25 per cent increase in nurses’ wages last year, private surgical hospitals faced high costs, which could force many to abandon everything except geriatric care

“In a surgical hospital of 80 beds we find that only about 60 beds are regularly being used. Because of the pattern of surgical treatment we are doing the same amount of work, or more, as with 80 beds bitt we no longer require the greater number,” Mr Woodward said.

“There is little hope for a significant number of private surgical hospitals continuing if these problems are not tackled. About six hospitals in New Zealand are in a serious situation.” Mr Woodward said he was unable to name the hospitals but said that larger hospitals were more prone to problems than smaller ones, which could handle increased costs.