HOSPITAL AFFAIRS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1082, 22 March 1911, Page 2

HOSPITAL AFFAIRS.

ANNUAL ESTIMATES, CRITICISM AND COMPARISON. Tho ordinary monthly mooting o{ the Wellington Hos-pital ami Charitable Aid Board, hold yesterday, was attended by Messrs. 11. Baldwin, G. Nash, J. E. Pitageralri, W. Gallnwnjv B. R. Gardener, J. Godber, A. H. liindmarsh, K. C. Kirk, G. T. London, J. W. M'Ewan, D. M'Laren, I'. T. Jlooio, D. Robertson, W. Tomptitt, J. Trevor, Miss Richmond, and the Revs. W. A. Evans and H. Van Sjtavcreu. Tho Kev. W. A. Evans presided, ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE. Estimates of expenditure for the year 1011-12 were presented to the Hospital Hoard yesterday by its Hospital Committee. Tlie rotaToutlay at Wellington Hospital, for the period, is estimated at .£27,425. Recoveries are estimated at A'iiiUO, leaving a net estimated expenditure of JJ2o,l2ii. The net estimated expenditure at the beginning of the current year was .017,178. ( ' ABE SALARIES TOO HIGH? It was rather a pity, Mr. Gardener remarked, that, these estimates, could not have been brought down earlier. They wore asked to authorise an expenditure of .£27,000, and practically were given, only two or three minutes in which to , consider tho matter. Continuing, Mr. Gardener suggested that there must Iμ something radically wrong in regard to the stalling of tho institution. Tho amount .paid in salaries was much higher than at any other hospital in the country. Making comparisons with Auckland opened one's, eyes. In Auckland the annual cost of maintenance and administration per occupied bed was «£77 13s. 7d.j in Wellington the cost was ,£9l 16s. In Auckland the annual cost of maintaining each occupied bed after making allowance for in-patients' fees was .£sl 11s. lOcl., in Wellington the corresponding amount was .-678 7?. 3d. Tho amount paid in salaries was much too large. The. board should not be asked to pass an expenditure of over .€OOOO under this head without having some details before it to show where the money was going. The time had come, Mr. Gardener coneluded, when the hoard should reorganise its establishment from tip to toe. DEFENDING THE ESTIMATES. Mr. Van Staverni professed astonish)?flu^' at Jlr, Gardener's remarks. He (Mr. Gardener) came to tho board mecting once a month, and voiced his opinion, but he did not give the Hospital Cominitli£C tho benefit of his valuable experience. Why did not Mr. Gardener attend the committee, and assist in getting these estimates into proper form? if there was a chance of improving matters and saving money it was the duty of every member of the Hospital Committee to show how it could be done. Mr. Kirk said that he always welcomed Mr. Gardener's criticism, but he felt, with Mr. Van Staveren, that it was offered in the wrong place. Tho estimates were fully considered by a sub-eommittee of the Hospital Committee, and inter by the committee itself. Hours and hour's had been given to studying the estimates, and the speaker did not see how the committee could have brought down lower figures than it had. Quoting from an official return, Mr. Kirk stated that tho annual expenditure on each occupied bed and the net cost were as follow in the hospitals.of the centres named:—Auckland, £77 13s. 7d. (£SB Us. 10d.); Wellington, X9l lGs. (,£7B 7s. 3d.); Dunedin, i.90 17s! 10d. (,£77 7s. 10d.) ; Christchilrch, £129 9s. 3d. (,£ll6 7s. Gd.). A special paragraph attached to the return, Mr. Kirk continued, contained a statement by Dr. Vdintine that authough a considerable saving had besn effected at tho Auckland Hospital, under a new management, he could hardly believe that tho saving effected was actually as great as the return indicated. The cost .per bed stated in the return was less by JtU per bod than at any other hospital in the Dominion. After some further discussion the Hospital estimates, as presented, were adopted. ■•. The remaining estimates brought' down were adopted without discussion. The net expenditure for the ensuing year upon charitable aid is estimated at .£6IOO (Ohiro Homo .£2745, out-door relief ,£2620, maintenance of children ,£4450, contingencies JC2BS). Estimated recoverks, amounting to ,£2000,-bring down tho total estimated' expenditure of .£IO,IOO to tho net amount of XBIOO. . The total estimated expenditure npon the Otaki Sanatorium amounts to .£4720. Deducting recoveries, .£415, there remains a net amount required of .£4305. Expenditure unon administration during the ensuing year is estimated at £1600. CHEST DISEASES. The following report presented by tho medical superintendent was adopted:— "I would suggest, that three rooms bo added to the present out-patients' block, for the purpose of treating patients suffering from chest diseases. Those rooms to consist of one large room 18ft. by 20ft. and two smaller ones 12ft. by_lsft. and Bft. by 15ft. I have been in communication with Mr. Trnvor, and ho states that the building would cost from JC2OO to ,£220. That the Department be called the 'Out-patients' Department for Chest Diseases.' That a permanent nurse bo appointed at a salary of .£IOO per annum b assist with out-patients, and to visit homes when necessary and anvise patients. That the patients be drawn from the class of hospital patients, and bo under the same rules and regulations. Other details as to tho working of the department might be left till the scheme has been inaugurated. After initial expense I consider tho expenses should uot be more than .£l5O per annum."