MUST PAY IF ABLE

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 180, 24 April 1924, Page 6

MUST PAY IF ABLE

HOSPITAL PATIENTS’ FEES

LARGE SUM WRITTEN OFF

The Patients’ Fees Accounts Committee reported to the Hospital Board yesterday as follows:

“(1) That the following accounts submitted by the receiver were recommended to be written off Charitable institution (10), £3l 4s. 6d.; nursing staff (7), £ll2 'ls.; social vtflfare cases (5), £37 195.; old-age pensioners (10), £165 ss. 4d. Total, £346 9s. lOd. “(2) That the board has no desire to oppress any individual whose account for hospital maintenance fee is unpaid, but it must be understood that where persons can pay they must arrange to pay, either in full or by regular monthly instalments. “(3) That in order to effect a settlement and close accounts with the Auckland Hospital • Board, this board pay the amount of £250, which f sum the Auckland Board is prepared to accept. “(4) That with reference to outstanding accounts, for which other hospital boards are held responsible, an intimation be sent that if no action is being taken the accounts will be submitted, in accordance with section 14 of the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Amendment Act,’ 1913, to the Minister of Health for decision. (5) That if no reply is received within a fortnight from the date ot final notice, from’persons who are unmarried such accounts will be forwarded to the Commercial Agency for collection.”

A return was submitted for the information of members of the board relating to maintenance accounts lor the period from April 1, 1923, to March 31 1924. It stated that during the period 5082 patients were admitted to the institution. Their liabilities with regard to maintenance fees were accounted for as follow : —ll6l accounts were paid in full, 849 were written off, 94 were paid in part, 3*9 were being paid bv instalments, 2088 were outstanding, and 419 patients were still in hospital. For the same period the total amount debited was £36,127. Ibis amount was disposed of as follows:— Accounts written off amounted to £B7OO, representing 24.27 per cent, or the total debited. Accounts paid in full £6lOB, paid in part £374 staff £SS6, being paid by instalments £1219, still outstanding £19.070. The Rev. J. K. Elliott eulogised Messrs. Appleton and McCurdy tor the splendid work they were doing in connection with hospital fees and accounts. They deserved the thanks of the board and the whole of the community.