HOSPITAL CHARGES

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 260, 3 August 1928, Page 13

HOSPITAL CHARGES

Sir, —I do not believe that it is generally known that during the period 1900 to 1927 admissions to public hospitals in NeAA T Zealand have increased 13.92 per 1000 of population to 45.4 per 1000, and that the number of persons treated as outpatients lias shown a corresponding increase from 13.5 per 1000 to 46.9 per 1000 of population. This enormous increase has gone on despite the fact that during the same period the general wealth of the community has become better equalised and the number of persons per 1000 of population classified (is indigent has undoubtedly increased. This simply, means that increased use is being made of public hospitals by a section of the community who can Avell afford to pay for their treatment. I hope this fact will be borne in mind Avhen the matter of hospital charges comes up for the consideration of the Wellington Board, and I hope to see some more businesslike system adopted of collecting those charges, seeing that our hospitals, some of the best equipped and most luxurious in the Avorld, seem no longer to be mere charitable institutions for the poor and indigent, alone, and seeing that our hospital expenditure bill has increased at such an alarming rate, Avith a corresponding increased burden on tiie taxpayer.—l am. etc., “BUSINESS.” Wellington, July 31.